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Jifornia 
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i 


Peter  Schlemihl 


I'nri-fiT? Trrs 


''IV or  Id  C  lassie  s.^^ 


Peter  Schlemihl 


ADALBERT   VON   CHAMISSO 


Illustrations  by  Marold  and  Mittis 


BOSTON 
JOSEPH    KNIGHT    COMPANY 

II  DCCC  XCIII 


Wirdbttaiiyi  l^ttne 

John  Wilson  ami  Son,  Cainbrid^c 
U.  S.  A. 


Annex 


-~,'-\ 


w 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH. 

Adalbert  von  Chamisso,  or 
Louis  Charles  Adelaide  de  Chamisso 
de  Boncourt,  was  born  at  the  castle  of 
Boncoiirt,  in  Champagne.  He  belonged 
to  a  noble  French  family,  who  derived 
their  title  from  the  ancient  town  of 
Chamesson,  near  Chatillon-snr-Seine. 
In  ijgo,  when  Adalbert  was  but  nine 
years  old,  the  Revolution  forced  the 
Chamissos  to  leave  France.  They  set- 
tled in  Berlin;  and  though  in  after 
years  the  elder  members  of  the  family 
returned  to  France,  Adalbert  remained 
behind  in  Germany,  where  by  this  time 
were   all    his    sympathies.      By    birth 


X  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

and  early  education  a  Frenchman,  he 
became  by  adoption,  bjy  marriage,  bj> 
occupation,  and  by  achievements  in 
literature,  a  German. 

In  1 796  Chamisso  was  made  a  page 
to  the  Queen  of  Prussia,  and  two 
years  later  entered  the  Prussian  ser- 
vice with  a  commission  as  ensign.  In 
1806,  however,  unwilling  to  serve  in 
the  campaign  of  that  year  against  his 
native  country,  he  gave  up  the  army, 
and  entered  into  literary  life,  under- 
taking in  conmction  with  Von  Ense 
and  'Neumann  the  publication  of  the 
Musenalmanach.  Friendly  inter- 
course with  Madame  de  Stael  at  this 
time,  whom  he  visited  at  Coppet,  was 
of  important  bearing  in  shaping  his 
future  life.  At  Coppet  he  first  began 
the  study  of  natural  history,  to  which 
he  henceforth  devoted  himself  with 
such    assiduity   and  success   that   his 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  XI 

repitfation  as  a  natitralist  is  a/most  as 
great  as  his  literarv  renown.  In  i8i  5 
be  accompanied  Otto  von  Kot^ebiie  as 
naturalist  in  the  scientific  expedition 
around  the  world  originated  by  the 
Russian,  Count  Roinan^off.  On  his 
return  in  18 18  he  -was  appointed 
custodian  of  the  botanical  gardens  at 
Berlin. 

At  the  same  time  he  married  a 
charming  and  wealthy  young  lady, 
Antonie  Piaste,  the  marriage  proving 
a  happy  one.  Chamisso  passed  the 
next  twenty  years  of  his  life  in  steady 
professional  labor,  brightened  by  his 
success  as  a  writer  and  by  intercourse 
with  an  increasing  circle  of  literary 
friends,  among  whom  were  August 
Neander,  Andersen,  and  Freiligratb. 
He  died  at  Berlin,  August  21,  18^8. 

The  poetic  element  in  Chamisso's 
nature  was   genuine  and  strong,  and 


Xll  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

he  enriched  his  adopted  language  with 
a  number  of  lyrical  poems  of  beautiful 
and  enduring  value.  His  Lion's 
Bride,  Retribution,  Song  of  Woman's 
Devotion,  and  Cousin  Anselmo  are 
all  remarkable  for  their  power  and 
true  pathos.  But  it  is  as  the  author  of 
a  prose  story,  Peter  Schlemilil,  the 
man  who  lost  his  shadow,  that  Cham- 
isso's  fame  will  rest.  Peter  Schlemihl 
was  first  published  in  1814,  and 
created  a  sensation  at  once.  IVhile  a 
genuine  story  for  young  people,  it  is 
also  to  the  older  and  sympathetic  reader 
an  accurate  and  pathetic  allegory  of 
the  author's  own  life. 


PREFACE. 

IT  was  in  1804,  at  Eerlin,  that  I 
*  used  to  know  Peter  Schlemihl. 
He  was  a  tall  young  fellow,  awk- 
ward without  being  clumsy,  indo- 
lent but  not  lazy,  for  the  most  part 
self-contained  without  seeming  to 
trouble  himself  about  what  was 
going  on  around  him.  He  was 
inoffensive,  but  seemed  to  have  little 
regard  for  the  proprieties ;  and  al- 
ways wore  a  black  coat,  so  old  and 
shabby  that  it  was  said  of  him  he 
ought  to  be  happy  if  his  soul  pos- 
sessed half   the  immortality  of   his 


PREFACE. 


cloak.  He  was  the  regular  butt  of 
our  set's  witticisms ;  but  all  the  same 
I  liked  him  well.  Certain  traits 
which  we  seemed  to  possess  in 
common  established  between  us  a 
mutual  affection. 

In  1813  I  was  living  in  the  coun- 
try, near  Berlin ;  and  having  been 
separated  by  circumstances  from 
Schlemihl  for  a  long  time,  I  had 
completely  lost  sight  of  him,  when 
one  foggy  autumn  morning,  having 
slept  late,  I  learned  upon  awakening 
that  a  man  with  a  long  beard, 
dressed  in  a  black  coat,  old  and 
shabby,  and  wearing  large  slippers 
over  his  shoes,  had  inquired  for  me, 
and  left  a  package  for  my  address. 
This  package  contained  the  auto- 
graph manuscript  of  the  "  Marvellous 
History  of  Peter  Schlemihl." 

I  have  sadly  abused  the  confi- 
dence of  my  unfortunate  friend.     I 


showed  the  manuscript  which  I 
ought  to  have  kept  concealed,  and 
P"ouque  committed  the  indiscretion 
of  having  it  printed.  Since  then 
I  have  been  punished  for  my  fault. 
[  have  been  associated  in  Schlemihl's 
shame,  which  I  was  instrumental  in 
divulging.  Meanwhile  I  have  be- 
come old,  and,  withdrawn  from  the 
world,  the  respect  of  mankind  is 
indifferent  to  me.  I  avow  to-day, 
without  hesitation,  the  friendship 
which  I  ever  possessed  for  Peter 
Schlemihl. 

This  history  has  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  speculative  people  who, 
accustomed  to  read  only  for  their 
own  instruction,  have  been  anxious 
to  know  what  a  shade  was.  Many 
have  offered  the  most  curious  hypo- 
theses on  the  subject,  while  others, 
dohig  me  the  honor  to  suppose  me 
more  learned   than    I  am,  have  ad- 


dressed  themselves  to  me  directly  to 
obtain  the  solution  of  their  doubts. 
The  questions  with  which  I  have 
been  besieged  have  made  me  blush 
at  my  OAvn  ignorance.  They  have 
caused  me  to  include  in  the  circle 
of  my  studies  a  subject  which  up  to 
that  time  had  remained  a  stranger 
to  it,  and  I  devoted  myself  to  re- 
searches the  result  of  which  I  record 
below. 

CONCERNING    SHADE. 

"An  opaque  body  can  never  be 
wholly  illuminated  by  a  luminous 
body  at  one  and  the  same  time,  and 
the  part  devoid  of  light,  which  is 
situated  on  the  non-illuminated  side, 
is  called  shadow  or  shade.  Shade, 
properly  so-called,  therefore  repre- 
sents a  solid,  the  form  of  which 
depends  at  once  upon  that  of  the 
luminous  body,  that  of  the  opaque 


body,  and  upon  the  position  of  this 
latter  with  regard  to  the  luminous 
body. 

"  A  shadow  seen  upon  a  plane 
situated  behind  the  opaque  body 
which  produces  it,  is  nothing  more 
than  the  section  of  this  plane 
upon  the  solid  which  represents 
the  shadow." 

Hauv.* 

This,  then,  is  the  solid  with  which 
we  have  to  deal  in  the  "  Marvellous 
History  of  Peter  Schlemihl."  The 
science  of  finance  sufficiently  im- 
presses upon  us  the  importance  of 
silver;  that  of  shades  is  less  gener- 
ally acknowledged.  My  imprudent 
friend  coveted  silver,  of  which  he 
knew  the  price,  and  never  dreamed 

*  Author  of  '"  Elementary  Treatise  on 
Physics"     Vol.  II.   Sects.  1002  and  1003. 


of  a  solid.  He  desires  that  we 
should  profit  by  this  lesson  for 
which  he  has  paid  so  dearly,  and 
his    experience    cries    out    to     us  : 

Think  of  the  solid ! 

Adelbert  von  Chamisso, 

Berlin,  November,  1837, 


4. 


PETER    SCHLEMIHL. 


Chapter  I. 

A  T  last,  after  a  fortunate,  but  to 
me  most  tedious  passage,  we 
reached  our  destined  haven.  As 
soon  as  the  boat  had  landed  me  on 
the  shore,  I  loaded  myself  with  my 
little    possessions,    and   forcing    my 

7 


8  SCHLEMIHL. 


way  through  the  swarming  crowd, 
entered  the  first  and  meanest  house 
distinguished  by  a  sign-board.  I 
ordered  a  chamber;  the  waiter 
measured  me  with  a  glance,  and 
sent  me  up  to  the  garret. 

I  ordered  fresh  water,  and  inquired 
for  the  abode  of  Mr.  Thomas  Jones. 
"  Near  the  North  gate,  the  first 
country  house  on  the  right-hand 
side  ;  a  large  new  house  of  red  and 
white  marble,  supported  by  many 
pillars."  Well,  it  was  yet  early ;  I 
opened  my  bundle,  laid  out  my 
newly-turned  black  coat,  clad  my- 
self in  my  sprucest  garments,  put 
my  letter  of  introduction  into  my 
pocket,  and  bent  my  way  to  the 
man  who  I  modestly  hoped  was 
destined  to  befriend  me. 

After  I  had  gone  through  the  long 
North-street,  and  reached  the  gate, 
I     saw     the     columns     glimmering 


SCHLEMIHL. 


through  the  green  trees.  "  It  is 
here,  then,"  I  thought.  I  wiped  the 
dust  from  my  feet  with  my  pocket- 
handkerchief,  arranged  my  cravat, 
and  rung  the  bell.  The  door  flew 
open,  the  servants  narrowly  ex- 
amined me  in  the  hall,  but  the 
porter  at  last  announced  me,  and 
I  had  the  honour  to  be  summoned 
into  the  park,  where  Mr,  Jones  was 
walking  with  a  small  company.  I 
knew  him  instantly  by  his  portly 
self-complacency.  He  received  me 
tolerably  well,  —  as  a  rich  man  is 
wont  to  receive  a  poor  dependent 
devil ;  looked  towards  me,  but  with- 
out turning  from  the  rest  of  the 
company,  and  took  from  me  the 
letter  I  held  in  my  hand.  "  Aye, 
aye  !  from  my  brother ;  I  have  not 
heard  from  him  a  long  time.  Is 
he  well  ?  There,"  he  continued,  ad- 
dressing the  company  without  wait 


SCHLEMIHL. 


ing  for  an  answer,  and  pointed  with 
the  letter  to  a  hill,  —  "  there  I  have 
ordered  a  new  building  to  be 
erected."  He  broke  the  seal,  but 
not  the  conversation,  of  which 
wealth  became  the  subject.  "  He 
who  is  not  the  master  of  at  least 
a  million,"  he  interposed,  "forgive 
the  expression,  is  a  ragamuffin." 
"  That  is  true,  indeed,"  exclaimed 
I,  with  full,  overflowing  feeling. 
He  must  have  been  pleased  with 
the  expression  of  my  concurrence, 
for  he  smiled  on  me  and  said,  "  Re- 
main here,  young  friend;  I  shall 
perhaps  have  time  to  tell  you  by 
and  by  what  I  think  of  it."  He 
pointed  to  the  letter,  put  it  into  his 
pocket,  and  turned  again  to  the 
company.  He  then  offered  his  arm 
to  a  young  lady;  other  gentlemen 
were  busied  with  other  fair  ones  ; 
every  one  found  some  one  to  whom 


SCHLEMIHL. 


he  attached  himself,  and  they  walked 
towards  the  rose-encircled  hill. 

I  lingered  idly  behind,  for  not  a 
soul  deemed  me  worthy  of  notice. 
The  company  was  extremely  cheer- 
ful, jocular,  and  witty;  they  spoke 
seriously  of  trifles,  and  triflingly  of 
serious  matters ;  and  I  observed 
they  unconcernedly  directed  their 
satires  against  the  persons  and  the 
circumstances  of  absent  friends.  I 
was  too  great  a  stranger  to  under- 
stand much  of  these  discussions, 
too  much  distressed  and  self-retired 
to  enter  into  the  full  merit  of  these 
enigmas. 

We  reached  the  rose-grove.  The 
lovely  Fanny,  the  queen,  as  it  seemed, 
of  the  day,  was  capricious  enough  to 
wish  to  gather  for  herself  a  bloom 
ing  branch ;  a  thorn  pricked  her, 
and  a  stream  as  Ijright  as  if  from 
damask  roses   flowed  over  her  deli- 


SCHLEMIHL. 


cate  hand.  This  accident  put  the 
whole  company  in  motion.  English 
court-plaster  was  instantly  inquired 
after.  A  silent,  meagre,  pale,  tall, 
elderly  man,  who  stood  next  to  me, 
and  whom  I  had  not  before  observed, 
instantly  put  his  hand  into  the  close- 
fitting  breast-pocket  of  his  old- 
fashioned,  grey  taffetan  coat,  took 
out  a  small  pocket-book,  opened  it, 
and  with  a  lowly  bow  gave  the  lady 
what  she  had  wished  for ;  she  took 
it  without  any  attention  to  the  giver, 
and  without  a  word  of  thanks.  The 
wound  was  bound  up,  and  they  as- 
cended the  hill,  from  whose  brow 
they  admired  the  wide  prospect  over 
the  park's  green  labyrinth,  extending 
even  to  the  immeasurable  ocean. 

It  was  indeed  a  grand  and  noble 
sight.  A  light  speck  appeared  on 
the  horizon  between  the  dark  waters 
and   the   azure    heaven.      "  A    tele- 


SCHLEMIHL. 


scope  here  !  "  cried  the  merchant ; 
and  before  any  one  from  the  crowds 
of  servants  appeared  to  answer 
his  call,  the  grey  man,  as  if  he 
had  been  applied  to,  had  already 
put  his  hand  into  his  coat-pocket : 
he  had  taken  from  it  a  beautiful 
Dollond,  and  handed  it  over  to 
Mr.  Jones  ;  who,  as  soon  as  he  had 
raised  it  to  his  eye,  informed  the 
company  that  it  was  the  ship  which 
had  sailed  yesterday,  driven  back 
by  contrary  winds.  The  telescope 
passed  from  hand  to  hand,  but  never 
again  reached  that  of  its  owner.  I, 
however,  looked  on  the  old  man  with 
astonishment,  not  conceiving  how 
the  large  machine  had  come  out  of 
the  tiny  pocket.  Nobody  else  seemed 
surprised,  and  they  appeared  to  cai-e 
no  more  about  the  grey  man  than 
about  me. 

Refreshments  were  produced  ;  the 


SCHLEMIHL. 


rarest  fruits  of  every  climate,  served 
in  the  richest  dishes.  Mr.  Jones  did 
the  honours  with  easy,  dignified 
politeness,  and  for  the  second  time 
directed  a  word  to  me  :  "  Eat  then, 
you  did  not  get  this  on  your  voyage." 
I  bowed,  but  he  did  not  observe  me ; 
he  was  talking  to  somebody  else. 

They  would  willingly  have  re- 
mained longer  on  the  sod  of  the 
sloping  hill,  and  have  stretched 
themselves  over  the  outspread  turf, 
had  they  not  feared  its  dampness. 
"  Now  it  would  be  enchanting,"  said 
somebody  of  the  company,  "  if  we 
had  Turkey  carpets  to  spread  here." 
The  wish  was  hardly  expressed  ere 
the  man  in  the  grey  coat  had  put 
his  hand  into  his  pocket,  and  with 
modest,  even  humble  demeanour, 
began  to  draw  out  a  rich  em- 
broidered Turkey  carpet.  It  was 
received    bv    the    attendants    as    a 


SCHLEMIHL.  15 

matter  of  course,  and  laid  down  on 
the  appointed  spot.  Witliout  fur- 
ther ceremony  the  company  took 
their  stand  upon  it.  I  looked  with 
new  surprise  on  the  man,  the  pocket, 
and  the  carpet,  which  was  about 
twenty  paces  long  and  ten  broad. 
I  rubbed  my  eyes,  not  knowing 
what  to  think,  and  especially  as 
nobody  else  seemed  moved  by  what 
had  passed. 

I  longed  to  learn  something  about 
the  man,  and  to  inquire  who  he  was  ; 
but  I  knew  not  to  whom  to  apply, 
for  I  really  was  more  afraid  of  the 
gentlemen-servants  than  of  the 
gentlemen  served.  I  mustered  up 
ray  spirits  at  last,  and  addressed 
myself  to  a  young  man  who  seemed 
less  pretending  than  the  rest,  and 
who  had  oftener  been  left  to  him- 
self. I  gently  asked  him  who  that 
courteous    gentleman    was    in    grey 


l6  SCHLEMIHL. 


clothes.  "  Who  ?  —  he  that  looks 
like  an  end  of  thread  blown  away 
from  a  tailor's  needle  ?  "  "  Yes,  he 
that  stands  alone."  "  I  do  not 
know  him,"  he  answered;  and, 
determined  as  it  seemed  to  break 
off  the  discussion  \\-ith  me,  turned 
away,  and  entered  on  a  trifling  con- 
versation -^^ith  somebody  else. 

The  sun  now  began  to  shine  more 
intensely,  and  to  annoy  the  ladies. 
The  lovely  Fanny  carelessly  ad- 
dressed the  grey  man,  whom  as  far 
as  I  know  nobody  had  addressed 
before,  with  the  frivolous  question, 
"  Had  he  a  marquee  ?  "  He  answered 
with  a  low  reverence,  as  if  feeling 
an  undeserved  honour  had  been 
done  him ;  his  hand  was  already  in 
his  pocket,  from  which  I  perceived 
canvas,  bars,  ropes,  iron-work  — 
everything,  in  a  word,  belonging  to 
the   most    sumptuous    tent,   issuing 


SCHLEMIHL.  17 


forth.  The  young  men  helped  to 
erect  it ;  it  covered  the  whole  extent 
of  the  carpet,  and  no  one  appeared 
to  consider  all  this  as  at  all 
extraordinary. 

If  my  mind  was  confused,  nay 
terrified,  with  these  proceedings, 
how  was  I  overpowered  when  the 
next-breathed  wish  brought  from  his 
pocket  three  riding  horses.  I  tell 
you,  three  great  and  noble  steeds, 
with  saddles  and  appurtenances  1 
Imagine  for  a  moment,  I  pray  you, 
three  saddled  horses  from  the  same 
pocket  which  had  before  produced 
a  pocket-book,  a  telescope,  an  orna- 
mented carpet  twenty  paces  long 
and  ten  broad,  a  pleasure-tent  of 
the  same  size,  with  bars  and  iron- 
work !  If  I  did  not  solemnly  assure 
you  that  I  had  seen  it  with  my  own 
eyes,  you  would  certainly  doubt  the 
narrative. 

2 


SCHLEMIHL. 


Though  there  was  so  much  of 
embarrassment  and  humility  in  the 
man,  and  he  excited  so  little  atten- 
tion, yet  his  appearance  to  me  had 
in  it  something  so  appalling  that  I 
was  not  able  to  turn  away  my  eyes 
from  him.  At  last  I  could  bear  it 
no  longer. 

I  determined  to  steal  away  from 
the  company  ;  and  this  was  easy  for 
one  who  had  acted  a  part  so  little 
conspicuous.  I  wished  to  hasten 
back  to  the  city,  and  to  return  in 
pursuit  of  my  fortune  the  follow- 
ing morning  to  Mr.  J.,  and  if  I 
could  muster  up  courage  enough, 
to  inquire  something  about  the  ex- 
traordinary grey  man.  Oh,  had  I 
been  thus  privileged  to  escape ! 

I  had  hastily  glided  through  the 
rose-grove,  descended  the  hill,  and 
found  myself  on  a  wide  grassplot, 
when,   alarmed  with    the    apprehen- 


SCHLEMIHL.  I9 

sion  of  being  discovered  wandering 
from  the  beaten  path,  I  looked 
around  me  with  enquiring  apprehen- 
sion. How  was  I  startled  when  I 
saw  the  old  man  in  the  grey  coat 
behind,  and  advancing  towards  me  ! 
He  immediately  took  off  his  hat, 
and  bowed  to  me  more  profoundly 
than  any  one  had  ever  done  before. 
It  was  clear  he  wished  to  address 
me,  and  without  extreme  rudeness 
I  could  not  avoid  him.  I  in  my 
turn  uncovered  myself,  made  my 
obeisance,  and  stood  still  with  a 
bare  head  in  the  sunshine  as  if 
rooted  there.  I  shook  with  terror 
while  I  saw  him  approach ;  I  felt 
like  a  bird  fascinated  by  a  rattle- 
snake. He  appeared  sadly  per- 
plexed, kept  his  eyes  on  the  ground, 
made  several  bows,  approached 
nearer,  and  with  a  low  and  trem- 
bling voice,  as  if  he  were  asking 
alms,  thus  accosted  me:  — 


SCHLEMIHL. 


"Will  the  gentleman  forgive  the 
intrusion  of  one  who  has  stopt 
him  in  this  unusual  way?  I  have 
a  request  to  make,  but  pray  par- 
don —  "  '•  In  the  name  of  Heaven. 
Sir ! "  I  cried  out  in  my  anguish, 
"what  can  I  do  for  one  who  — " 
We  both  started  back,  and  me- 
thought  both  blushed  deeply. 

After  a  momentary  silence  he 
again  began :  "  During  the  short 
time  when  I  enjoyed  the  happiness 
of  being  near  you,  I  observed,  Sir, 
—  will  you  allow  me  to  say  so,  —  I 
observed,  with  unutterable  admira- 
tion, the  beautiful,  beautiful  shadow 
in  the  sun,  which  with  a  certain  noble 
contempt,  and  perhaps  ^^•ithout  being 
aware  of  it,  you  threw  off  from  your 
feet ;  forgive  me  this,  I  confess,  too 
daring  intrusion,  but  should  you  be 
inclined  to  transfer  it  to  me  ?  " 

He  was  silent,  and  my  head  turned 


SCHLEMIHL. 


round  like  a  water-wheel.  What 
could  I  make  of  this  singular  pro- 
posal for  disposing  of  my  shadow  ? 
He  is  crazy,  thought  I ;  and  with  an 
altered  tone,  yet  more  forcible  as 
contrasted  with  the  humility  of  his 
own,  I  replied,  — 

"  How  is  this,  good  friend  ?  Is 
not  your  own  shadow  enough  for 
you  ?  This  seems  to  me  a  whimsi- 
cal sort  of  bargain  indeed."  He 
began  again,  "  I  have  in  my  pocket 
many  matters  which  might  not  be 
quite  unacceptable  to  the  gentle- 
man ;  for  this  invaluable  shadow  I 
deem  any  price  too  little." 

A  chill  came  over  me :  I  remem- 
bered what  I  had  seen,  and  knew 
not  how  to  address  him  whom  I 
had  just  ventured  to  call  my  good 
friend.  I  spoke  again,  and  assumed 
an  extraordinary  courtesy  to  set 
matters  in  order. 


SCHLEMIHL. 


"Pardon,  Sir,  pardon  your  most 
humble  servant,  I  do  not  quite  under- 
stand your  meaning ;  how  can  my 
shadow  — "  He  interrupted  me: 
"  I  only  beg  your  permission  to  be 
allowed  to  lift  up  your  noble  shadow, 
and  put  it  in  my  pocket ;  how  to  do 
it  is  my  own  affair.  As  a  proof  of 
my  gratitude  for  the  gentleman,  I 
leave  him  the  choice  of  all  the 
jewels  which  my  pocket  affords ; 
the  genuine  divining  rods,  man- 
drake roots,  change  pennies,  money 
extractors,  the  napkins  of  Rolando's 
Squire,  and  divers  other  miracle- 
workers,  —  a  choice  assortment.  But 
all  this  is  not  fit  for  you ;  better 
that  you  should  have  Fortunatus's 
wishing-cap  restored  spick  and  span 
new,  and  also  a  fortune-bag  which 
belonged  to  him."  "  Fortunatus's 
fortune-bag !  "  I  exclaimed  ;  and 
great  as  had  been  my  terror,  all  my 


SCHLEMIHL.  23 

senses  were  now  enraptured  by  the 
sound.  I  became  dizzy,  and  nothing 
but  double  ducats  seemed  sparkling 
before  my  eyes. 

"  Condescend,  Sir,  to  inspect  and 
make  a  trial  of  this  bag."  He  put 
his  hand  into  his  pocket,  and  drew 
from  it  a  moderately  sized,  firmly- 
stitched  purse  of  thick  cordovan, 
with  two  convenient  leather  cords 
hanging  to  it,  which  he  presented  to 
me.  I  instantly  dipped  into  it,  drew 
from  it  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and  ten 
more,  and  ten  more,  and  yet  ten 
more;  —  I  stretched  out  my  hand. 
"  Done !  the  bargain  is  made ;  I 
give  you  my  shadow  for  your  purse." 
He  grasped  my  hand,  and  knelt 
down  behind  me,  and  with  wonder- 
ful dexterity  I  perceived  him  loosen- 
ing my  shadow  from  the  ground 
from  head  to  foot ;  he  lifted  it  up ; 
he  rolled  it  together  and  folded  it. 


24  SCHLEMIHL. 

and  at  last  put  it  into  his  pocket. 
He  then  stood  erect,  bowed  to  me 
again,  and  returned  back  to  the 
rose-grove.  I  thought  I  heard  him 
laughing  softly  to  himself.  I  held, 
however,  the  purse  tight  by  its 
strings  —  the  earth  was  sun-bright 
all  around  me,  and  my  senses  were 
still  wholly  confused. 


At  last  I  came  to  myself,  and 
hastened  from  a  place  where  ap- 
parently I  had  nothing  more  to 
do.  I  first  filled  my  pockets  with 
gold,  then  firmly  secured  the  strings 
of  the  purse  round  my  neck,  taking 
care  to  conceal  the  purse  itself  in 
my  bosom.  I  left  the  park  unnoticed, 
reached  the  high  road,  and  bent  my 
way  to  the  town.  I  was  walking 
thoughtfully  towards  the  gate,  when 


:tAW, 


.  .  .  Knelt  down  behind 


SCHLEMIHL.  Z^ 

I  heard  a  voice  behind  me :  "  Holla ! 
young  Squire !  holla !  don't  you 
hear?"  I  looked  round  —  an  old 
woman  was  calling  after  me  :  "  Take 
care,  sir,  take  care  —  you  have  lost 
your  shadow  !  "  "  Thanks,  good 
woman."  I  threw  her  a  piece  of 
gold  for  her  well-meant  counsel,  and 
walked  away  under  the  trees. 

At  the  gate  I  was  again  con- 
demned to  hear  from  the  sentinel, 
"  Where  has  the  gentleman  left  his 
shadow  ? "  and  immediately  after- 
wards a  couple  of  women  exclaimed, 
"  Good  heavens !  the  poor  fellow 
has  no  shadow."  I  began  to  be 
vexed,  and  carefully  avoided  walk- 
ing in  the  sun.  This  I  could  not 
always  do :  for  instance,  in  the 
Broad-street,  which  I  was  next  com- 
pelled to  cross ;  and  as  ill-luck  would 
have  it,  at  the  very  moment  when 
the  boys  were  being  released  from 


2S  SCHLEMIHL. 


school.  A  confounded  hunch-backed 
vagabond  —  I  see  him  at  this  moment 
—  had  observed  that  I  wanted  a 
shadow.  He  instantly  began  to 
bawl  out  to  the  young  tyros  of  the 
suburbs,  who  first  criticised  me,  and 
then  bespattered  me  with  mud  : 
"  Respectable  people  are  accustomed 
to  carry  their  shadows  with  them 
when  they  go  into  the  sun."  I  scat- 
tered handfuls  of  gold  among  them 
to  divert  their  attention ;  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  some  compassionate 
souls,  sprang  into  a  hackney  coach. 

As  soon  as  I  found  myself  alone 
in  the  rolling  vehicle,  I  began  to 
weep  bitterly.  My  inward  emotion 
suggested  to  me,  that  even  as  in  this 
world  gold  weighs  down  both  merit 
and  virtue,  so  a  shadow  might  possi- 
bly be  more  valuable  than  gold 
itself ;  and  that  as  I  had  sacrificed 
my  riches  to  my  integrity  on  other 


SCHLEMIHL.  29 

occasions,  so  now  I  had  given  up 
my  shadow  for  mere  wealth ;  and 
what  ought,  what  could  become  of 
me  ? 

I  continued  still  sadly  discom- 
posed, when  the  coach  stopped 
before  the  old  tavern.  I  was 
shocked  at  the  thought  of  again 
entering  that  vile  garret.  I  sent  for 
my  baggage,  took  up  the  miserable 
bundle  with  contempt,  threw  the 
servants  some  pieces  of  gold,  and 
ordered  to  be  driven  to  the  principal 
hotel.  The  house  faced  the  north, 
so  I  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the 
sun.  I  dismissed  the  driver  with 
gold,  selected  the  best  front  room, 
and  locked  myself  in  as  soon  as 
possible. 

And  how  do  you  imagine  I  em- 
ployed myself  .-*  r)h,  my  beloved 
Chamisso,  I  blush  to  confess  it  even 
to  you.     I  drew   forth   the  luckless 


30  SCHLEMIHL. 

purse  from  my  bosom,  and  impelled 
by  a  sort  of  madness  which  burned 
and  spread  within  me  like  a  furious 
conflagration,  I  shook  out  gold,  and 
gold,  and  gold,  and  still  more  gold  ; 
strewed  it  over  the  floor,  trampled  on 
it,  and  made  it  tinkle,  and  feasting 
my  weak  senses  on  the  glitter  and 
the  sound,  I  added  pile  to  pile,  till  I 
sunk  exhausted  on  the  golden  bed. 
I  rolled  about,  and  wallowed  in  deli- 
cious delirium.  And  so  the  day 
passed  by,  and  so  the  evening.  My 
door  remained  unopened,  and  night 
found  me  still  reposing  on  the  gold, 
when  sleep  at  length  overcame  me. 

Then  I  dreamed  of  you.  I  fancied 
I  was  standing  close  to  the  glass 
door  of  your  little  apartment,  and 
saw  you  sitting  at  your  work-table, 
between  a  skeleton  and  a  parcel  of 
dried  plants.  Haller,  Humboldt, 
and   Linnaeus  lay  open  before  you; 


nprffit 


.  .  .  Night  found  me  still 
reposing  on  the  gold  .  .  . 


SCHLEMIHL.  ^^ 

on  your  sofa  were  a  volume  of 
Goethe  and  The  Magic  Ring*  I 
looked  at  you  for  a  long  time,  then 
at  everything  around  you,  and  then 
at  you  again ;  but  you  moved  not, 
you  breathed  not  —  you  were  dead. 

I  awoke :  it  seemed  to  be  yet 
early  —  my  watch  had  stopped  ;  I 
felt  as  if  I  had  been  bastinadoed  — 
yet  both  hungry  and  thirsty,  for 
since  the  previous  morning  I  had 
eaten  nothing.  With  weariness  and 
disgust  I  pushed  away  from  me  the 
gold,  which  but  a  little  time  before 
had  satiated  my  foolish  heart :  I  now 
in  my  perplexity  knew  not  how  to 
dispose  of  it.  But  it  could  not  re- 
main there.  I  tried  to  put  it  again 
into  the  purse  —  no ;  none  of  my 
windows  opened  upon  the  sea.  I 
was  obliged   to   content   myself   by 

*  Another  novel  of  Fouqud. 

3 


34  SCHLEMIHL. 

dragging  it  with  immense  labour 
and  difficulty  to  a  large  cupboard, 
which  stood  in  a  recess,  where  I 
packed  it  up.  I  left  only  a  few 
handfuls  lying  about.  When  I  had 
finished  my  labour,  I  sat  dowTi  ex- 
hausted in  an  arm-chair,  and  waited 
till  the  people  of  the  house  began 
to  stir.  I  ordered  breakfast,  and 
begged  the  landlord  to  be  with  me 
as  soon  as  practicable. 

With  this  man  I  arranged  the 
future  management  of  my  house- 
hold. He  recommended  to  me  for 
my  personal  servant  a  certain  Ben- 
del,  whose  honest  and  intelligent 
countenance  instantly  interested  me. 
It  was  he  who  from  that  moment 
accompanied  me  through  life  with 
a  sympathizing  attachment,  and 
shared  with  me  my  gloomy  destiny. 
I  passed  the  whole  day  in  my  apart- 
ments %\ith   servants   out  of  place, 


SCHLEMIHL.  35 

shoe-makers,  tailors,  and  shop- 
keepers ;  I  provided  myself  with  all 
necessaries,  and  bought  large  quan- 
tities of  jewels  and  precious  stones, 
merely  to  get  rid  of  some  of  my 
piles  of  gold ;  but  it  seemed  scarcely 
possible  to  diminish  the  heap. 

Meanwhile  I  contemplated  my 
situation  with  most  anxious  doubts. 
I  dared  not  venture  one  step  from 
my  door,  and  at  evening  ordered 
forty  wax-lights  to  be  kindled  in  my 
saloon,  before  I  left  the  dark  cham- 
ber. I  thought  with  horror  of  the 
dreadful  scene  with  the  school-boys, 
and  determined,  whatever  it  might 
cost,  once  more  to  sound  public 
opinion.  The  moon  at  this  season 
illumined  the  night.  Late  in  the 
evening  I  threw  a  wide  cloak  around 
me,  pulled  down  my  hat  over  my 
eyes,  and  glided  out  of  the  house 
trembling  like  a  criminal.     I  walked 


36  SCHLEMIHL. 


first  along  the  shadows  of  the  houses 
to  a  remote  open  place  ;  I  then  aban- 
doned their  protection,  stepped  out 
into  the  moonshine,  resolving  to 
learn  my  destiny  from  the  lips  of 
the  passers-by. 

But  spare  me,  my  friend,  the  pain- 
ful repetition  of  what  I  was  con- 
demned to  undergo !  The  deepest 
pity  seemed  to  inspire  the  fairer 
sex ;  but  my  soul  was  not  less 
wounded  by  this  than  by  the  con- 
tumely of  the  young,  and  the  proud 
disdain  of  the  old,  especially  of 
those  stout  and  well-fed  men,  whose 
dignified  shadows  seemed  to  do 
them  honour.  A  lovely,  graceful 
maiden,  apparently  accompanying 
her  parents,  who  seemed  not  to 
look  beyond  their  own  footsteps, 
accidentally  fixed  her  sparkling  eyes 
upon  me.  She  obviously  started  as 
she  remarked  my  shadowless  figure  ; 


SCHLEMIHL.  37 

she  hid  her  beautiful  face  beneath 
her  veil,  hung  down  her  head,  and 
passed  silently  on. 

I  could  bear  it  no  longer.  Salt 
streams  burst  forth  from  my  eyes. 
and  with  a  l)roken  heart  I  hurried 
tremblingly  back  into  darkness.  I 
was  obliged  to  grope  along  by  the 
houses,  in  order  to  feel  my  steps 
secure,  and  slowly  and  late  I  reached 
my  dwelling. 

That  night  was  a  sleepless  one. 
My  first  care  at  daybreak  was  to 
order  the  man  in  the  grey  coat  to 
l^e  everywhere  sought  for.  Per- 
chance I  might  be  lucky  enough  to 
discover  him  —  and  oh,  what  bliss 
if  he  as  well  as  I  repented  of  our 
foolish  bargain  !  I  sent  for  Bendel ; 
he  seemed  both  apt  and  active.  I 
described  to  him  minutely  the  man 
who  held  in  his  possession  that 
treasure,  without  which  life  was  but 


38  SCHLExMIHL. 


a  torment  to  me.  I  told  him  the 
time,  the  place  where  I  had  seen 
him ;  particularized  to  him  all  the 
persons  who  could  assist  his  in- 
quiries ;  and  added,  that  he  should 
especially  ask  after  a  Dollond's  tele- 
scope, a  gold  embroidered  Turkish 
carpet,  a  superb  tent,  and  also  the 
black  riding  horses,  whose  history 
—  I  did  not  state  how  —  was  closely 
connected  with  that  of  the  unintel- 
ligible man,  whom  nobody  seemed 
to  notice,  and  whose  appearance  had 
destroyed  the  peace  and  happiness 
of  my  life. 

When  I  had  done,  I  brought  out 
as  much  gold  as  I  was  able  to  carry. 
I  laid  jewels  and  precious  stones  to 
a  still  greater  amount  upon  the  pile. 
"  Bendel,"  I  said,  "  this  levels  many 
a  path,  and  makes  many  a  difficult 
thing  easy ;  be  not  sparing,  you  know 
I  am  not ;  but  go  and  rejoice  your 


SCHLEMIHL.  39 

master    with    the    information     on 
which  his  only  hopes  are  built." 

He  went  —  he  returned  —  and  re- 
turned late  and  sorrowful.  None  of 
the  merchant's  servants,  none  of  his 
guests  —  he  had  spoken  to  all  — 
knew  anything  about  the  man  in 
the  grey  coat.  The  new  telescope 
was  there,  but  they  were  all  ignorant 
whence  it  came.  The  tent  and  the 
carpet  were  extended  on  the  same 
hill;  the  lackeys  boasted  of  their 
master's  magnificence :  but  none 
knew  from  what  place  these  new 
valuables  had  come.  They  had  ad- 
ministered to  his  pleasures  ;  and  he 
did  not  disturb  his  rest  to  inquire 
into  their  origin.  Their  horses  were 
in  the  stalls  of  the  young  men  who 
had  rode  them;  and  they  lauded  the 
generosity  of  the  merchant,  who  had 
that  day  requested  they  would  keep 
them   as    presents.      Such   was    the 


40  SCHLEMIHL. 


light  that  Bendel  threw  upon  this 
extraordinary  history,  and  for  this 
fruitless  result  received  my  grateful 
thanks.  I  beckoned  gloomily  to 
him  that  he  should  leave  me  alone. 
But  he  resumed,  "  I  have  informed 
you,  Sir,  of  everything  connected  ^\ith 
the  affair  which  most  interests  you. 
I  have  also  a  message  to  deliver, 
which  was  given  to  me  this  morning 
early,  by  a  person  whom  I  met  at 
the  door,  while  I  was  going  out  on 
the  business  in  which  I  have  been 
so  unfortunate.  His  own  words 
were,  '  Say  to  Mr.  Peter  Schlemihl, 
he  will  see  me  here  no  more,  as  I 
am  going  to  cross  the  sea ;  and  a 
favourable  wind  beckons  me  to  the 
haven.  But  after  a  year  and  a  day 
I  shall  have  the  honour  to  seek  him 
out,  and  perhaps  to  propose  to  him 
another  arrangement  which  may  then 
be    to    his   liking.      Remember   me 


SCHLEMIHL. 


most  obediently  to  him,  and  assure 
him  of  my  thanks.'  I  asked  him 
who  he  was ;  and  he  replied  that 
you  knew." 

"  What  was  the  man's  appear- 
ance ? "  I  cried,  full  of  forebodings. 
And  Eendel  described  the  man  in 
the  grey  coat,  feature  by  feature, 
word  for  word,  precisely  as  he  had 
depicted  him  when  inquiring  al)Out 
him. 

"  Miserable  mortal !  "  exclaimed  I, 
wringing  my  hands,  "  it  was  he  !  it 
was  he  himself  !  "  He  looked  as  if 
scales  had  fallen  from  his  eyes. 
"  Yes,  it  was  he,  it  was  indeed  he !  " 
he  cried  out  in  agony  ;  "  and  I,  silly, 
deluded  one,  I  did  not  know  him 
—  I  did  not  know  him  —  I  have 
betrayed  my  master !  " 

He  broke  out  into  the  loudest 
reproaches  against  himself.  He 
wept  bitterly;  his  despair  could  not 


42  SCHLEMIHL. 


but  excite  my  pity.  I  ministered 
consolation  to  him,  assured  him 
again  and  again  that  I  did  not  doubt 
his  fidelity,  and  sent  him  instantly 
to  the  haven,  to  follow  the  strange 
man's  steps  if  possible.  But,  on  that 
very  morning,  many  vessels  which 
had  been  kept  by  contrary  wind? 
back  in  port,  had  put  to  sea,  all  des- 
tined to  distant  lands  and  other 
climes ;  the  grey  man  had  disap- 
peared trackless  as  a  shade. 


Chapter  II. 


/~^P'  what  use  would  wings  be  to 
him  who  is  fast  bound  in  iron 
fetters  ?  He  must  still  despair,  and 
despair  with  deeper  melancholy.  I 
lay  like  Taffner  by  his  stronghold, 
far  removed  from  any  earthly  con- 
solation, starving  in  the  midst  of 
43 


SCHLEMIHL. 


riches.  They  gave  me  no  enjoy- 
ment ;  I  cursed  them ;  they  had  cut 
me  off  from  mankind.  Concealing 
my  gloomy  secret  ^^•ithin  me,  I  trem- 
bled before  the  meanest  of  my  ser- 
vants, whom  I  could  not  but  envy ; 
for  he  had  his  shadow,  and  could 
show  himself  in  the  sun.  Alone  in 
my  apartments,  I  mourned  through 
harassing  days  and  nights,  and 
anguish  fed  upon  my  heart. 

One  individual  was  constantly 
sorrowing  under  my  eyes.  My  faith- 
ful Bendel  ceased  not  to  torment 
himself  with  silent  reproaches  that 
he  had  deceived  the  confidence  of 
his  generous  master,  and  had  not 
recognized  him  whom  he  was  sent 
to  seek,  and  with  whom  my  mourn- 
ful fate  seemed  strongly  intertwined. 
I  could  not  blame  him ;  I  recognized 
too  well  in  that  event  the  mysterious 
nature  of  the  unknown  being. 


SCHLEMIHL.  45 

But,  to  leave  nothing  untried,  I 
sent  Bendel  with  a  costly  brilliant 
ring  to  the  most  celebrated  painter 
in  the  city,  requesting  he  would  pay 
me  a  visit.  He  came — I  ordered 
away  my  servants,  locked  the  door, 
sat  myself  by  him ;  and  after  prais- 
ing his  art,  I  came  with  a  troubled 
spirit  to  the  great  disclosure,  having 
first  enjoined  on  him  the  strictest 
secresy. 

"  Mr.  Professor,"  I  began,  "  can 
you  paint  a  false  shadow  for  one 
who  in  the  most  luckless  way  in  the 
world  has  lost  his  own  ?  "  .  "  Vou 
mean  a  reflected  shadow  ?  "  "  To 
l)e  sure."  "  But,"  he  added,  "  through 
what  awkwardness  or  what  negli- 
gence could  he  lose  his  own 
shadow  ?  "  "  How  it  happened," 
replied  I,  "  that  does  not  matter, 
l)ut — "  I  impudently  began  again 
with  a  lie,  —  "  last  winter,  when  he 


46  SCHLEMIHL. 


was  travelling  in  Russia,  it  froze  so 
severely  during  the  extraordinary 
cold,  that  his  shadow  was  frozen 
to  the  ground,  and  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  get  it  free." 

"  And  I,"  said  the  professor, 
"  could  only  make  him  a  sheet 
shadow,  which  he  would  be  apt  to 
lose  again  on  the  slightest  motion  ; 
especially  for  one  whose  genuine 
shadow  was  so  badly  fixed,  as  must 
be  inferred  from  your  account :  the 
simplest  and  wisest  determination 
for  him  who  has  no  shadow,  is  not 
to  go  in  the  sun."  He  stood  up 
and  walked  away,  after  having  sent 
through  me  a  piercing  glance  which 
I  could  not  endure.  I  sunk  back  on 
my  chair,  and  veiled  my  face  with 
my  hands. 

Thus  Bendel  found  me  when  he 
entered.  He  saw  his  master's  sor- 
row, and  wanted  silently  and  respect- 


SCHLEMIHL.  47 

fully  to  turn  back.  I  raised  my  eyes : 
the  weight  of  my  grief  was  upon  me  ; 
I  determined  to  divide  it.  "  Ben- 
del  !  "  I  called  to  him  ;  "  Bendel !  you 
who  alone  see  and  respect  my  suffer- 
ings, not  curiously  prying  into  them, 
but  secretly  and  devotedly  sharing 
them  with  me  —  come  to  me,  Ben- 
del,  be  the  nearest  to  my  heart.  The 
stores  of  my  gold  I  have  not  con- 
cealed from  you  ;  from  you  I  will 
not  hide  the  store  of  my  anguish. 
Bendel,  forsake  me  not.  You  know 
I  am  wealthy,  kind,  and  generous  ; 
and  perhaps  you  think  the  world 
should  honour  me  for  that :  but,  you 
see,  I  shun  the  world;  I  hide  my- 
self from  its  observation.  Bendel, 
the  world  has  judged  me  and  con- 
demned me ;  and  Bendel,  too,  per- 
haps, will  turn  from  me  when  he 
possesses  my  dreadful  secret.  Ben- 
del, I  am  indeed   rich,  liberal,  and 


48  SCHLEMIHL. 

independent,  but  —  heavens  !  I  have 
no  shadow." 

"  No  shadow !  "  echoed  the  good 
young  man  in  an  agony,  while  bright 
tears  broke  from  his  eyelids ;  "  alas, 
alas,  that  I  should  have  been  born 
to  serve  a  shadowless  master  !  "  He 
was  silent,  and  I  hid  my  face  in  my 
hands. 

At  last  I  tremblingly  said,  "  Ben- 
del,  you  have  now  my  confidence, 
—  betray  it  if  you  will,  —  away,  and 
bear  Avitness  against  me."  He  seemed 
struggling  with  internal  emotion  ;  he 
threw  himself  at  my  feet,  seized  my 
hand,  and  bathed  it  with  his  tears. 
"  No,"  he  cried,  "  let  the  world  say 
what  it  may,  I  will  not  leave  my 
good  master  for  the  sake  of  a 
shadow ;  I  will  do  what  is  right  and 
not  what  is  prudent ;  I  will  remain 
with  you,  I  mil  lend  you  my  shadow  ; 
I  will  help  you  where  I  can ;  I  will 


SCHLEMIHL.  49 

weep  with  you."  I  fell  on  his  neck, 
overcome  with  such  an  unexpected 
self-devotion.  I  felt  assured  he  did 
nothing  for  the  sake  of  gold. 

From  that  moment  my  fate  and 
my  mode  of  life  changed.  It  is  in- 
describable how  carefully  Bendel 
sought  to  cover  my  defects.  He 
was  ever  before  and  mth  me,  fore- 
seeing everything,  arranging  every- 
thing, and  where  unexpected  danger 
threatened,  covering  me  with  his 
shadow,  for  he  was  fortunately  taller 
and  stouter  than  I.  Again  I  mingled 
with  mankind,  and  acted  my  part  in 
the  scenes  of  the  world.  It  was 
necessary  to  assume  much  singu- 
larity and  queerness,  but  these  sit 
well  upon  a  rich  man ;  and  while  the 
truth  lay  concealed,  I  enjoyed  all  the 
honour  and  esteem  to  which  wealth 
has  a  claim.  I  looked  with  more 
calmness  on  the  advancing  year  and 
■I 


SCHLEMIHL. 


day,  whose  close  was  to  bring  with 
them  the  visit  of  the  mysterious 
unknown. 

I  was  well  aware  that  I  could  not 
remain  long  in  the  place  where  I  had 
been  seen  without  a  shadow,  and 
where  I  might  so  easily  be  betrayed ; 
and  I  thought  perhaps  more  on  this, 
remembering  how  I  had  first  shown 
myself  to  the  merchant,  which  was 
now  a  sad  recollection  to  me  :  con- 
sequently I  would  only  make  an 
experiment  here,  that  I  might  learn 
how  to  introduce  myself  hereafter 
\\dth  more  ease  and  confidence; 
nevertheless  it  happened  that  I  was 
momentarily  bound  down  by  my 
vanity,  which  is  the  firm  ground  in 
man  where  the  anchor  fixes  itself. 

The  beautiful  Fanny,  whom  I 
again  met  in  another  situation,  be- 
stowed on  me  some  attention,  with-' 
out  recollecting  that  she  had  seen 


SCHLEMIHL.  51 


me  before  ;  for  now  I  had  both  nit 
and  understanding.  When  I  talked, 
all  listened ;  and  I  could  not  im- 
agine when  or  how  I  had  acquired 
the  talent  of  leading  and  directing 
the  conversation.  The  impression 
which  I  perceived  I  had  produced 
on  the  fair  one,  made  me,  as  she 
would  have  me,  a  very  fool ;  and 
from  this  time  I  pursued  her,  where 
only  I  could  pursue  her,  through 
shades  and  twilight.  I  was  vain 
enough  to  make  her  vain  of  me  ;  yet 
I  could  not  succeed,  notwithstanding 
all  my  efforts  to  drive  the  intoxica- 
tion from  my  head  to  my  heart. 

liut  why  enter  upon  the  details 
of  an  every-day  story  ?  You  know, 
and  have  often  told  me,  how  other 
wealthy  people  spend  their  days. 
From  an  old,  well-known  drama,  in 
which  I,  out  of  mere  good-humour, 
was  playing  a  hackneyed  part,  arose 


SCHLEMIHL. 


a  singular  and  incredible  catastro- 
phe, unexpected  by  me,  or  by  Fanny, 
or  by  anybody. 

According  to  my  custom,  one 
lovely  evening  I  had  assembled  a 
large  company  in  an  illuminated 
garden.  I  was  wandering  about 
with  my  divinity  arm-in-arm,  sep- 
arated from  the  rest  of  the  guests, 
and  endeavouring  to  amuse  her  with 
well-timed  conversation  ;  she  looked 
modestly  toward  the  ground,  and 
gently  returned  the  pressure  of  my 
hand.  At  this  moment  the  moon 
unexpectedly  burst  through  the 
clouds ;  her  shadow  alone  was  there ; 
she  started,  looked  alarmed  at  me, 
then  at  the  earth,  as  if  her  eyes 
were  asking  for  my  shadow.  All 
her  emotions  were  painted  so  faith- 
fully on  her  countenance,  that  I 
should  have  burst  into  a  loud  laugh 
had  I  not  felt  an  icy  chillness  creep- 
ing over  me. 


r 


n 


% 


10 


.  .  .  Then  at  tlie  earth,  as 
if  her  eyes  were  asking  for 
my  shadow  .  .  . 


SCHLEMIHL. 


She  sunk  down  from  my  arms  in  a 
swoon.  I  flew  like  an  arrow  through 
the  alarmed  company,  reached  the 
door,  threw  myself  into  the  first 
coach  I  found  waiting  there,  and 
hurried  back  to  the  city,  where,  to 
my  misfortune,  I  had  left  the  fore- 
sighted  Bendel.  He  was  startled  at 
seeing  me — a  word  told  all.  Post- 
horses  were  instantly  ordered.  I 
took  only  one  of  my  servants  with 
me,  an  interested  villain  called  Ras- 
cal, who  had  learned  to  make  him- 
self useful  by  his  dexterity,  and  who 
could  suspect  nothing  of  what  had 
occurred.  We  travelled  a  hundred 
miles  before  night.  Bendel  was  left 
behind  to  dismiss  my  household,  to 
distribute  my  money  by  paying  my 
debts,  and  to  bring  away  what  was 
most  necessary.  When  he  overtook 
me  the  next  day,  I  threw  myself  into 
his  arms,  solemnly  promising  to  com- 


56  SCHLEMIHL. 


mit  no  further  folly,  but  to  be  more 
discreet  in  future.  We  continued 
our  journey  ^^•ithout  interruption, 
passing  over  the  chain  of  mountains 
which  formed  the  frontier ;  and  only 
when  on  the  descent,  and  separated 
by  the  high  bastions  from  the  land 
so  fatal  to  my  peace,  did  I  allow 
myself  to  be  comforted,  and  has- 
tened away  to  a  watering-place  in 
the  vicinity,  where  I  sought  repose 
from  my  disappointments  and  my 
sorrows. 


I  must  hurry  rapidly  over  a  part 
of  my  histor}^,  on  which  I  should 
rejoice  to  linger  if  I  could  invoke  the 
living  spirit  of  departed  time.  But 
the  beautiful  associations  which  ani- 
mated it  once,  and  which  alone 
could  animate  its  memory,  are  now 
extinguished  within   me.      When    I 


SCHLEMIHL.  57 

seek  them,  —  that  mfluence  which 
ruled  so  mightily  over  my  joys  and 
sorrows,  my  mingled  destiny,  —  I 
strike  in  vain  against  a  rock  that 
gives  out  a  living  stream  no  longer ; 
the  divinity  is  fled  Oh  how  changed 
is  the  aspect  of  those  days  of  old ! 
My  intention  was  now  to  act  an 
heroic  character;  but  it  was  badly 
studied,  and  I  a  novice  on  the  stage 
was  forgetting  my  part  while  fasci- 
nated by  a  pair  of  blue  eyes.  In  the 
intoxication  of  the  scene,  the  parents 
seem  eager  to  close  the  bargain,  and 
the  farce  ends  in  a  common  mockery. 
And  this  is  all!  So  stale,  so  un- 
profitable, and  so  melancholy  are 
the  revisitings  of  what  beat  once 
so  nobly  and  proudly  in  my  bosom. 
Mina,  as  I  wept  when  I  lost  thee, 
even  now  I  weep  to  have  lost  thee 
within  me.  Am  I  l)ecome  so  old! 
Pitiful  intellect  of  man  !     Oh   for  a 


58  SCHLEiMIHL. 

pulse-beat  of  those  days,  a  moment 
of  that  consciousness  !  But  no !  I 
am  a  solitary  wave  in  the  dark  and 
desolate  sea ;  and  the  sparkling  glass 
I  drank  was  drugged  uith  misery. 

I  had  previously  sent  Bendel  with 
bags  of  gold  to  fit  out  a  dwelling 
suitable  for  me  in  the  town.  He 
had  scattered  about  a  great  deal  of 
money,  and  talked  mysteriously  of 
the  illustrious  stranger  whom  he  had 
the  honour  to  serve  (for  I  did  not 
choose  to  be  named),  and  this  filled 
the  good  people  with  strange  notions. 
As  soon  as  the  house  was  ready  for 
me,  Bendel  returned  to  convey  me 
thither.     We  started  immediately. 

About  an  hour's  distance  from  the 
place,  on  a  sunny  plain,  a  great  num- 
ber of  persons  in  gala  dresses  arrested 
our  progress.  The  coach  stopped : 
music,  bell-ringing,  and  cannonading 
were  heard :  a  loud  acclamation  rent 


SCHLEMIHL.  59 


the  air;  and  a  chorus  of  singularly 
beautiful  maidens  in  white  robes 
appeared  at  the  door  of  the  carriage, 
one  of  whom,  surpassing  the  rest  as 
the  sun  surpasses  in  brightness  the 
stars  of  evening,  stepped  forward, 
and  with  graceful  and  modest  blushes 
knelt  before  me,  and  presented  to 
me  on  a  silken  cushion  a  wreath  of 
laurel,  olive,  and  rose  branches,  gar- 
landed together,  while  she  uttered 
some  words,  which  I  understood 
not,  of  majesty,  awe,  and  love,  whose 
soft  and  silver  tones  enchanted  my 
ear  and  my  bosom,  —  it  seemed  to 
me  as  if  the  heavenly  apparition  had 
once  glided  before  me  in  other  days. 
The  chorus  began,  and  sang  the 
praise  of  a  good  monarch  and  the 
happiness  of  his  people. 

And  this  happened,  my  friend,  in 
the  bright  sunshine :  she  continued 
to  kneel  some  two  steps  before  me, 


6o  SCHLEMIHL. 


and  I,  shadowless,  dared  not  spring 
over  the  gulf,  that  I  might  fall  on 
my  knees  in  her  angelic  presence. 
What  would  I  not  have  given  in 
that  moment  for  a  shadow !  I  was 
obliged  to  conceal  my  shame,  my 
anguish,  my  despair,  by  sinking  back 
into  the  carriage.  Bendel  relieved 
me  from  my  embarrassment ;  he 
leaped  out  from  the  other  side ;  I 
called  him  back,  and  gave  him  out 
of  my  little  casket,  which  lay  close 
at  hand,  a  rich  diamond  crown 
which  was  intended  to  adorn  the 
lovely  Fanny.  He  moved  forward, 
and  spoke  in  his  master's  name, 
"  who  neither  could,"  he  said,  "  nor 
would  accept  such  flattering  marks 
of  honour;  there  must  have  been 
some  error,  though  he  could  not  but 
thank  the  worthy  to\ATispeople  for 
their  expressions  of  kindness."  He 
then   took   the    garland   of    flowers 


SCHLEMIHL.  6l 

from  its  place,  and  put  there  instead 
of  it  the  crown  of  diamonds.  His 
hand  assisted  the  beautiful  maiden 
to  rise,  and  with  a  look  of  dignity 
he  sent  away  the  clergy,  magistrates, 
and  deputies.  Nobody  was  allowed 
a  further  audience.  He  bade  the 
crowd  retire,  and  make  room  for  the 
horses,  and  flung  himself  into  the 
carriage,  and  off  we  went  in  a  rapid 
gallop  to  the  town,  through  the 
arches  of  flowers  and  laurels  which 
had  been  erected.  The  cannon  con- 
tinued to  thunder ;  the  coach  at 
last  reached  my  a]:)ode.  I  turned 
hastily  through  the  door,  dividing 
the  assembly  who  had  gathered 
together  to  see  me.  The  mob  cried, 
"  God  bless  him !  "  under  my  win- 
dow; and  I  ordered  double  ducats 
to  be  scattered  among  them.  At 
night  the  town  was  spontaneously 
illuminated. 


62  SCHLEMIHL. 


And  I  knew  not  yet  what  all  this 
meant,  nor  who  I  was  imagined  to 
be.  I  sent  out  Rascal  to  get  inform- 
ation. He  discovered  that  the  people 
believed  they  had  certain  informa- 
tion that  the  good  king  of  Prussia 
was  travelling  through  the  country 
under  the  title  of  count;  that  my 
adjutant  had  been  recognized,  and 
had  discovered  both  himself  and 
me  ;  in  a  word,  that  infinite  joy  had 
been  felt  at  the  certainty  of  having 
me  among  them.  They  had  ascer- 
tained, indeed,  that  as  I  wished  to 
preserve  the  strictest  incognito,  it 
had  been  wrong  to  draw  up  the  veil 
so  intrudingly ;  but  as  I  had  ex- 
pressed my  displeasure  with  so  much 
graciousness  and  kindness,  surely  my 
generous  heart  could  forgive  them. 

It  was  so  excellent  a  joke  for  my 
scoundrel  servant,  that  he  did  as 
much  as  possible  by  his  sharp  re- 


SCHLEMIHL.  63 

monstrances  to  confirm  the  good 
people  in  their  opinions.  He  gave 
me  a  most  amusing  account  of  his 
proceedings;  and  as  he  saw  it  ani- 
mated me,  he  thought  to  add  to  my 
enjoyment  by  a  display  of  his  o\vn 
knavish  tricks.  Shall  I  confess  it  ? 
I  was  not  a  little  flattered  by  even 
the  illusion  of  being  mistaken  for 
the  head  of  the  kingdom. 

I  ordered  a  feast  to  be  provided 
on  the  following  evening,  under  the 
trees  which  overshadowed  the  ex- 
panse in  front  of  my  house,  and  the 
whole  town  to  be  invited.  The  mys- 
terious virtue  of  my  purse,  the  exer- 
tions of  Bendel,  and  the  dexterous 
contrivances  of  Rascal  succeeded 
in  doing  wonders  in  the  trifling 
space  of  time.  It  is  really  astonish- 
ing how  richly  and  beautifully  every- 
thing was  arranged  in  so  short  a 
period.     vSuch  pomp  and  superfluity 


64  SCHLEMIHL. 

were  exhibited  there,  and  the  richly- 
fanciful  illuminations  were  so  ad- 
mirably managed,  that  I  felt  quite 
at  ease  ;  I  had  nothing  to  find  fault 
with,  and  I  could  not  but  praise  the 
diligence  of  my  servants. 

Evening  darkness  came  on ;  the 
guests  appeared,  and  were  intro- 
duced to  me.  The  word  "  majesty  " 
was  no  more  whispered ;  but  I  often 
heard,  uttered  in  deep  awe  and 
humility, "the Count."  What  could 
I  do.-*  The  word  count  satisfied 
me,  and  from  that  moment  I  was 
Count  Peter.  But  in  the  midst  of 
the  festive  crowd  I  sought  but 
one ;  at  last  she  appeared ;  she  was 
the  crown,  and  she  wore  it.  She 
followed  her  parents  modestly,  and 
seemed  not  to  know  that  she  was 
the  loveliest  of  the  assemblage. 
The  forest-master,  his  wife,  and 
daughter  were  introduced.      I  said 


SCHLEMIHL.  65 

much  that  was  agreeable  and  obli- 
ging to  the  old  people ;  but  I  stood 
before  their  daughter  like  a  checked 
boy,  and  could  not  utter  a  single 
word.  At  last  I  stammered  forth  a 
request  that  she  would  honour  the 
festival  by  undertaking  that  office 
whose  badge  she  bore.  With  a  touch- 
ing look  she  begged  blushingly  that 
I  would  excuse  her.  But  more 
abashed  before  her  than  she  her- 
self, I,  as  her  first  subject,  offered 
her  my  humble  tribute ;  and  my 
glance  served  as  a  command  to  all 
the  guests,  each  of  whom  seemed 
anxious  to  meet  it.  Over  this  joy- 
ful festivity  presided  majesty,  inno- 
cence, and  grace  allied  with  beauty. 
Mina's  happy  parents  believed  that 
out  of  respect  for  them  their  child 
had  been  elevated  to  these  unex- 
pected honours,  and  I  was  in  an 
unspeakable  transport  of  joy.  I 
5 


66  SCHLEMIHL. 

ordered  everything  that  was  left  of 
the  j  ewels,  pearls,  and  precious  stones 
which  I  had  purchased  with  my  per- 
plexing piles  of  wealth,  to  be  placed' 
in  two  covered  dishes,  and  distributed 
in  the  name  of  the  queen  among  her 
plaj^ellows  and  the  ladies  present ; 
and  I  ordered  gold  to  be  thrown 
over  the  border  fence  among  the 
joyous  crowds. 

On  the  following  morning  Ben- 
del  communicated  to  me,  in  confi- 
dence, that  the  suspicions  he  had 
formed  against  Rascal's  integrity 
were  fully  confirmed :  he  had  yes- 
terday purloined  several  bags  of 
gold.  "  Let  us  not  envy,"  I  replied, 
"  the  poor  devU  this  trifling  booty ; 
I  scatter  my  money  about  profusely, 
—  why  not  to  him?  Yesterday,  he 
and  everybody  else  served  me  nobly, 
and  arranged  a  delightful  festivity." 
Nothing  further  was  said  about  it ; 


SCHLE.MIUL.  67 


Rascal  continued  to  be  my  head- 
servant,  and  Bendel  my  friend  and 
confidant.  He  had  imagined  my 
wealth  to  be  inexhaustible,  and  he 
cared  not  to  inquire  into  its  source. 
Entering  into  my  feelings,  he  as- 
sisted me  to  find  out  constant  occa- 
sions to  display  my  wealth,  and  to 
spend  it.  Of  the  unknown,  pale, 
sneaking  fellow,  he  only  knew  that 
without  him  I  could  not  get  released 
from  the  curse  which  bound  me,  and 
that  I  dreaded  the  man  on  whom  my 
only  hope  reposed.  Besides,  I  was 
now  convinced  he  could  discover 
me  anywhere,  while  I  could  find 
him  nowhere ;  so  that  I  determined 
to  abandon  a  fruitless  inquiry,  and 
to  await  the  promised  day. 

The  magnificence  of  the  festival, 
and  my  condescension  there,  con- 
firmed the  obstinately-credulous  in- 
habitants in  their  first  opinion  of  my 


68  SCHLEMIHL. 


dignity.  It  appeared  very  soon,  not- 
withstanding, in  the  newspapers,  that 
the  reported  journey  of  the  king  was 
wholly  without  foundation.  But  I 
had  been  a  king,  and  a  king  I  was 
unfortunately  compelled  to  remain ; 
and  certainly  I  was  one  of  the  richest 
and  kingliest  who  had  ever  appeared. 
But  what  king  could  I  be  ?  The 
world  has  never  had  cause  to  com- 
plain of  any  scarcity  of  monarchs, 
at  least  in  our  days ;  and  the  good 
people,  who  had  never  seen  one  with 
their  own  eyes,  first  fijced  on  one, 
and  then,  equally  happily,  on 
another;  but  Count  Peter  continued 
to  be  my  name. 

There  once  appeared  among  the 
visitors  to  the  baths  a  merchant, 
who  had  made  himself  a  bankrupt 
in  order  to  get  rich ;  and  he  enjoyed 
the  general  esteem.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  a  broad,  palish  shadow. 


SCHLEMIHL.  69 

He  wished  ostentatiously  to  display 
the  wealth  he  had  acquired,  and  he 
determined  to  be  my  rival.  I  applied 
to  my  bag.  I  drove  on  the  poor 
devil  at  such  a  rate  that  in  order  to 
save  himself  he  was  obliged  to  be- 
come a  bankrupt  a  second  time. 
Thus  I  got  rid  of  him ;  and  by  sim- 
ilar means  I  created  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood many  an  idler  and  a 
vagabond. 

Though  I  thus  lived  in  apparent 
kingly  pomp  and  prodigality,  my 
habits  at  home  were  simple  and 
unpretending.  With  thoughtful  fore- 
sight, I  had  made  it  a  rule  that  no 
one  except  Bendel  should  on  any 
pretence  enter  the  chamber  which  I 
occupied.  As  long  as  the  sun  shone 
I  remained  there  locked  in.  People 
said,  "  The  count  is  engaged  in  his 
cabinet."  The  crowds  of  couriers 
were  kept  in  communication  by  these 


70  SCHLEMIHL. 


occupations,  for  I  dispatched  and 
received  tliem  on  the  most  trifling 
business.  At  evening,  alone,  I  re- 
ceived company  under  the  trees  or 
in  my  saloon,  which  was  skilfully 
and  magnificently  lighted,  according 
to  Bendel's  arrangement.  When- 
ever I  went  out  Bendel  watched 
round  me  with  Argus'  eyes ;  my 
steps  were  always  tending  to  the 
forester's  garden,  and  that  only  for 
the  sake  of  her ;  the  inmost  spirit 
of  my  existence  was  my  love. 

My  good  Chamisso,  I  will  hope 
you  have  not  forgotten  what  love 
is  ;  I  leave  much  to  your  filling  up. 
Mina  was  indeed  a  love-worthy,  good, 
and  gentle  girl ;  I  had  obtained  full 
possession  of  her  thoughts ;  and  in 
her  modesty  she  could  not  imagine 
how  she  had  become  worthy  of  my 
regard,  and  that  I  dwelt  only  upon 
her  ;  but  she  returned  love  for  love, 


SCHLEMIHL.  71 

in  the  full  youthful  energy  of  an 
innocent  heart.  She  loved  like  a 
woman  ;  all  self-sacrificing,  self-for- 
getting, and  living  only  in  him  who 
was  her  life,  careless  even  though 
she  should  perish  :  in  a  word,  she 
truly  loved. 

But  I  —  oh,  what  frightful  mo- 
ments !  —  frightful !  yet  worthy  to 
be  recalled.  How  often  did  I  weep 
in  Bendel's  bosom,  after  I  recovered 
from  the  first  inebriety  of  rapture  ! 
how  severely  did  I  condemn  myself, 
that  I,  a  shadowless  being,  should 
seal,  with  wily  selfishness,  the  per- 
dition of  an  angel,  whose  pure  soul 
I  had  attached  to  me  by  lies  and 
theft !  Now  I  determined  to  unveil 
myself  to  her;  now,  with  solemn 
oaths,  I  resolved  to  tear  myself  from 
her,  and  to  fly ;  then  again  I  broke 
out  into  tears,  and  arranged  with 
Bendel  for  visiting  her  in  the  forest- 
garden  again  in  the  evening. 


72  SCHLEMIHL. 

Sometimes  I  allowed  myself  to  be 
flattered  with  the  hopes  of  the  now 
nearly  approaching  visit  of  the  un- 
known, mysterious  old  man ;  and 
wept  anew  when  I  recollected  that 
I  had  sought  him  in  vain.  I  had 
reckoned  the  day  when  I  was  again 
to  expect  to  see  that  awful  being. 
He  had  said  a  year  and  a  day,  and 
I  relied  on  his  word. 

Mina's  parents  were  good,  worthy 
old  people,  loving  their  only  child 
most  tenderly ;  the  whole  affair  had 
taken  them  by  surprise,  and,  as 
matters  stood,  they  knew  not  how 
to  act.  They  could  never  have 
dreamed  that  Count  Peter  should 
think  of  their  child ;  but  it  was  clear 
he  loved  her  passionately,  and  was 
loved  in  return.  The  mother,  in- 
deed, was  vain  enough  to  think  of 
the  possibility  of  such  an  alliance, 
and  to   prepare  for  its  accomplish- 


SCHLE.MIHL.  7^ 

ment ;  but  the  calm  good  sense  of 
the  old  man  never  gave  such  an 
ambitious  hope  a  moment's  con- 
sideration. But  they  were  both  con- 
vinced of  the  purity  of  my  love,  and 
could  do  nothing  but  pray  for  their 
child. 

A  letter  is  now  in  my  hand  which 
I  received  about  this  time  from 
Mina.  This  is  her  very  character. 
I  will  copy  it  for  you. 

"•  I  know  I  am  a  weak,  silly  girl ; 
for  I  have  taught  myself  to  believe 
my  beloved  would  not  give  me  pain, 
and  this  because  I  deeply,  dearly 
love  him.  Alas !  thou  art  so  kind, 
so  unutterably  kind !  but  do  not 
delude  me.  For  me  make  no  sacri- 
fice —  wish  to  make  no  sacrifice. 
Heaven  !  I  could  hate  myself  if  I 
caused  thee  to  do  so.  No,  thou 
hast  made  me  infinitely  happy ;  thou 
hast  taught  me  to  love  thee.     But 


74  SCHLEMIHL. 

go  in  peace !  my  destiny  tells  me 
Count  Peter  is  not  mine,  but  the 
whole  world's  ;  and  then  I  shall  feel 
proudly  as  I  hear  that  it  was  he  — 
and  he  again  —  that  he  had  done 
this  —  that  he  has  been  adored 
here,  and  deified  there.  When  I 
think  of  this,  I  could  reproach  thee 
for  forgetting  thy  high  destinies  in 
a  simple  maiden.  Go  in  peace,  or 
the  thought  will  make  me  miserable, 
—  me,  alas !  who  am  so  happy,  so 
blessed  through  thee.  And  have 
not  I  entwined  in  thy  existence  an 
olive-branch  and  a  rose-bud,  as  in 
the  garland  which  I  dared  to  present 
thee  ?  Think  of  thyself,  my  beloved 
one ;  fear  not  to  leave  me,  I  should 
die  so  blessed  —  so  unutterably 
blessed,  through  thee." 

You  may  well  imagine  how  these 
words  thrilled  through  my  bosom. 
I  told  her  I  was  not  that  which  I 


SCHLEMIHL. 


was  supposed  to  be ;  I  was  only  a 
wealthy,  but  an  infinitely-wretched 
man.  There  was,  I  said,  a  curse 
upon  me,  which  should  be  the  only 
secret  between  her  and  me ;  for  I 
had  not  yet  lost  the  hope  of  being 
delivered  from  it.  This  was  the 
poison  of  my  existence,  that  I  could 
have  swept  her  away  with  me  into 
the  abyss, — her,  the  sole  light,  the 
sole  bliss,  the  sole  spirit  of  my  life. 
Then  she  wept  again  that  I  was  so 
unhappy.  She  was  so  amiable,  so 
full  of  love !  How  blessed  had  she 
felt  to  have  offered  herself  up  in 
order  to  spare  me  a  single  tear  ! 

But  she  was  far  from  rightly  under- 
standing my  words  :  she  sometimes 
fancied  I  was  a  prince  pursued  by  a 
cruel  proscription ;  a  high  and  de- 
voted chief,  whom  her  imagination 
loved  to  depicture,  and  to  give  to 
her  beloved  one  all  the  bright  hues 
of  heroism. 


76  SCHLEMIHL. 


Once  I  said  to  her,  "  Mina,  on  the 
last  day  of  the  coming  month,  my 
doom  may  change  and  be  decided. 
If  that  should  not  happen  I  must 
die,  for  I  cannot  make  thee  miser- 
able." She  wept,  and  her  head  sunk 
upon  my  bosom.  "  If  thy  doom 
should  change,  let  me  but  know 
thou  art  happy ;  I  have  no  claim 
upon  thee.  But  shouldst  thou  be- 
come miserable,  bind  me  to  thy 
misery ;  I  will  help  thee  to  bear  it." 

"  Beloved  maiden  !  withdraw,  with- 
draw the  rash,  the  foolish  word  which 
has  escaped  thy  lips.  Dost  thou 
know  what  is  my  misery  ?  dost  thou 
know  what  is  my  curse  .-*  That  thy 
beloved — what  he  —  Dost  thou  see 
me  shuddering  convulsively  before 
thee  and  concealing  from  thee  — " 
She  sunk  sobbing  at  my  feet,  and 
renewed  her  declaration  with  a 
solemn  vow. 


SCHLEMIHL.  "^ 

I  declared  to  the  now  approach- 
ing forest-master  my  determination 
to  ask  the  hand  of  his  daughter  for 
the  first  day  of  the  coming  month. 
I  fixed  that  period,  because  in  the 
mean  while  many  an  event  might 
occur  which  would  have  great  influ- 
ence on  my  fortunes.  My  love  for 
his  daughter  could  not  but  be  un- 
changeable. 

The  good  old  man  started  back, 
as  it  were,  while  the  words  escaped 
from  Count  Peter's  lips.  He  fell 
upon  my  neck,  and  then  blushed 
that  he  had  so  far  forgotten  him- 
self. Then  he  began  to  doubt,  to 
ponder,  to  inquire ;  he  spoke  of 
dowTy,  of  security  for  the  future  for 
his  beloved  child.  I  thanked  him 
for  reminding  me  of  it.  I  told  him 
I  wished  to  settle  and  live  a  life  free 
from  anxiety,  in  a  neighbourhood 
where  I  appeared  to  be  beloved.     I 


78  SCHLEMIHL. 

ordered  him  to  buy,  in  the  name  of 
his  daughter,  the  finest  estates  that 
were  offered,  and  refer  to  me  for  the 
payment.  A  father  would  surely  best 
serve  the  lover  of  his  child.  This 
gave  him  trouble  enough,  for  some 
stranger  or  other  always  forestalled 
him ;  but  he  bought  for  only  the 
amount  of  about  a  million  florins. 

The  truth  is,  this  was  a  sort  of 
innocent  trick  to  get  rid  of  him, 
which  I  had  already  once  done  be- 
fore ;  for  I  must  own  he  was  rather 
tedious.  The  good  mother,  on  the 
contrary,  was  somewhat  deaf,  and 
not,  like  him,  always  jealous  of  the 
honour  of  entertaining  the  noble 
Count. 

The  mother  pressed  forward.  The 
happy  people  crowded  around  me, 
entreating  me  to  lengthen  the  even- 
ing among  them.  I  dared  not  linger 
a   moment ;    the    moon   was    rising 


SCHLKMIHL.  79 

above  the  twilight  of  evening ;  my 
time  was  come. 

Next  evening  I  returned  again  to 
the  forest-garden.  I  had  thrown  my 
broad  mantle  over  my  shoulders,  my 
hat  was  slouched  over  my  eyes.  I 
advanced  towards  Mina;  as  she 
lifted  up  her  eyes  and  looked  at  me 
an  involuntary  shudder  came  over 
her.  The  frightful  night  in  which 
I  had  shown  myself  shadowless  in 
the  moonlight  returned  in  all  its 
brightness  to  my  mind.  It  was  in- 
deed she  !  Had  she,  too,  recognized 
me  ?  She  was  silent  and  full  of 
thought.  I  felt  the  oppression  of  a 
nightmare  on  my  breast.  I  rose 
from  my  seat ;  she  threw  herself 
speechless  on  my  bosom.  I  left 
her. 

IJut  now  I  often  found  her  in 
tears ;  my  soul  grew  darker  and 
darker,  while  her  parents  seemed  to 


So  SCHLEMIHL. 


revel  in  undisturbed  joy.  The  day 
so  big  with  fate  rolled  onwards, 
heavy  and  dark  like  a  thunder- 
cloud. Its  eve  had  arrived,  I  could 
scarcely  breathe.  I  had  been  fore- 
sighted  enough  to  fill  some  chests 
with  gold.  I  waited  for  midnight; 
it  tolled. 

And  there  I  sat,  my  eyes  directed 
to  the  hand  of  the  clock ;  the  seconds, 
the  minutes,  as  they  tinkled,  entered 
me  like  a  dagger.  I  rose  up  at  every 
sound  I  heard.  The  day  began  to 
dawn ;  the  leaden  hours  crowded  one 
on  another  ;  it  was  morning  —  even- 
ing —  night.  The  hands  of  the  time- 
piece moved  slowly  on,  and  hope 
was  departing.  It  struck  eleven,  and 
nothing  appeared.  The  last  minutes 
of  the  last  hour  vanished  ;  still  noth- 
ing appeared  :  the  first  stroke  —  the 
last  stroke  of  tzuelve  sounded.  I 
sank  hopeless  on  my  couch  in  cease- 


SCHLEMIHL. 


8l 


less  tears.  To-morrow  —  shadow- 
less forever !  to-morrow  I  should 
solicit  the  hand  of  my  beloved. 
Towards  morning  a  heavy  sleep 
closed  my  eyes. 


Chapter  III. 

IT  was  yet  early  when  I  was 
awakened  by  the  sound  of  voices 
violently  disputing  in  my  ante-cham- 
ber. I  listened ;  Bendel  was  forbid- 
ding access  to  my  door.  Rascal 
swore  loudly  and  deeply  that  he 
would  take  no  orders  from  his  fel- 
82 


SCHLEMIHL. 


lo'A--servant,  and  insisted  on  rushing 
into  my  apartment.  The  good  Ben- 
del  warned  him  that  if  such  language 
reached  my  ears  he  might  perchance 
lose  a  profitable  place ;  but  Rascal 
threatened  to  lay  violent  hands  upon 
him  if  he  impeded  his  entrance  any 
longer. 

I  had  half  dressed  myself.  I 
angrily  flung  the  door  open,  and 
called  out  to  Rascal,  "  What  dost 
want,  thou  scoundrel  ? "  He  re- 
treated two  paces,  and  answered 
with  perfect  coldness,  "  Humbly  to 
request,  may  it  please  your  lordship, 
for  once  to  show  me  your  shadow ; 
the  sun  is  shining  so  beautifully  in 
the  court." 

I  felt  as  if  scathed  by  a  thunder- 
bolt, and  it  was  long  before  I  could 
utter  a  word :  "  How  can  a  servant 
presume  against  his  master  that  —  " 
He  interrupted  me  with  provoking 


84  SCHLEMIHL. 

calmness :  "  A  servant  may  be  a 
very  honest  man,  and  yet  refuse  to 
serve  a  shadowless  master ;  I  must 
have  my  discharge."  I  tried  another 
weapon. 

"  But  Rascal,  my  dear  Rascal,  who 
has  put  this  wild  notion  into  your 
head  ?  How  can  you  imagine  —  " 
But  he  continued  in  the  same  tone, 
"  There  are  people  who  assert  you 
have  no  shadow ;  so,  in  a  word, 
either  show  me  your  shadow,  or  give 
me  my  discharge." 

Bendel,  pale  and  trembling,  but 
more  discreet  than  I,  made  me  a 
sign  to  seek  a  resource  in  the 
silence-imposing  gold.  But  it  had 
lost  its  power ;  Rascal  flung  it  at  my 
feet :  "I  will  take  nothing  from  a 
shadowless  being."  He  turned  his 
back  upon  me,  put  his  hat  on  his 
head,  and  went  slowly  out  of  the 
apartment  whistling  a  tune.     T  stood 


SCHLEMIHL.  85 

there  like  a  petrifaction,  looking  after 
him,  vacant  and  motionless. 

Heavy  and  melancholy,  with  a 
deathlike  feeling  within  me,  I  pre- 
pared to  redeem  my  promise,  and, 
like  a  criminal  before  his  judges,  to 
show  myself  in  the  forester's  gar- 
den. I  ascended  to  the  dark  arbour 
which  had  been  called  by  my  name, 
where  an  appointment  had  been 
made  to  meet  me.  Mina's  mother 
came  forward  towards  me,  gay,  and 
free  from  care.  Mina  was  seated 
there,  pale  and  lovely,  as  the  earliest 
snow  when  it  kisses  the  last  autumnal 
flower  and  soon  dissolves  into  bitter 
drops.  The  forest-master,  with  a 
written  sheet  in  his  hand,  wandered 
in  violent  agitation  from  side  to  side, 
seemingly  overcome  with  internal 
feelings,  which  painted  his  usually 
unvarying  countenance  with  con- 
stantly changing  paleness  and  scar- 


S6  SCHLEMIHL. 

let.  He  came  towards  me  as  I 
entered,  and  with  broken  accents 
requested  to  speak  to  me  alone. 
The  path  through  which  he  invited 
me  to  follow  him  led  to  an  open, 
sunny  part  of  the  garden.  I  seated 
myself  down  without  uttering  a 
word  ;  a  long  silence  followed,  which 
even  our  good  mother  dared  not 
interrupt. 

With  irregular  steps  the  forest- 
master  paced  the  arbour  backwards 
and  forwards ;  he  stood  for  a  moment 
before  me,  looked  into  the  paper 
which  he  held,  and  said  A\'ith  a  most 
penetrating  glance,  "  Count,  and  do 
you  indeed  know  one  Peter  Schle- 
mihl  ?  "  I  was  silent.  "  A  man  of 
reputable  character,  and  of  great 
accomplishments."  He  waited  for 
my  answer.  "  And  what  if  I  were 
he  ? "  "  He,"  added  he  vehe- 
mently, "  who  has  in  some  way  got 


SCHLEMIHL.  87 

rid  of  his  shadow ! "  "  Oh,  my 
forebodings  !  my  forebodings  '  '" 
exclaimed  Mina,  "  alas  !  I  knew  long 
ago  that  he  had  no  shadow !  "  and 
she  flung  herself  into  her  mother's 
arms,  who,  alarmed,  pressed  her  con- 
vulsively to  her  bosom,  reproaching 
me  with  having  concealed  such  a 
fatal  secret  from  her;  but  she,  like 
Arethusa,  was  bathed  in  a  fountain 
of  tears,  which  flowed  abundantly  at 
the  sound  of  my  voice,  and  at  my 
approach  tempestuously  burst  forth. 

"  And  so,"  cried  the  forest-master, 
furiously,  "  your  matchless  impu- 
dence has  sought  to  betray  that 
poor  girl  and  me  ;  and  you  pretended 
to  love  her,  —  her  whom  you  have 
dragged  to  the  abyss.  See  how  she 
weeps,  how  she  is  agonized !  Oh 
shame  !  Oh  sin  I  " 

I  was  so  completely  confused  that 
I  answered  incoherently,  "  After  all, 


SCHLEMIHL. 


'twas  but  a  shadow,  nothing  but 
a  shadow  —  one  can  manage  \A-ith- 
out  it;  and  surely  it  is  not  worth 
making  such  a  noise  about."  But 
I  felt  so  deeply  the  deception  of  my 
language  that  I  was  silent  before 
he  deigned  to  give  me  an  answer. 
I  added,  "  What  a  man  has  lost  to- 
day he  may  find  again  to-morrow." 

He  spoke  angrily :  "  Explain  to 
me,  sir,  explain  how  you  got  rid  of 
your  shadow."  I  was  compelled 
again  to  lie  :  "  A  vulgar  fellow  trod 
so  clumsily  upon  my  shadow  that 
he  tore  a  great  hole  in  it ;  I  sent  it 
to  be  mended — gold  can  do  every- 
thing ;  I  ought  to  have  received  it 
back  yesterday." 

"  Very  well,  sir,  very  well,"  he  re- 
plied. "  You  sue  for  my  daughter, 
others  do  the  same;  as  her  father 
I  must  take  care  of  her.  I  give  you 
three  days'  respite,  which  you  may 


,,iiiiii!i!ifiiii,fiifiiim'iiiii 


"2      '  III 


jii      r 


i 


^  i{  '^  \ 


SCHLEMIHL.  91 


employ  in  procuring  a  shadow.  Come 
to  me  after  this  ;  and  if  you  have  one 
that  suits  you,  you  will  be  welcome. 
But  if  not,  on  the  fourth  day  I  must 
tell  you  my  daughter  shall  be  the 
wife  of  another."  I  attempted  to 
address  a  word  to  Mina ;  but  she 
clung,  violently  agitated,  closer  to 
her  mother,  who  silently  beckoned 
to  me  that  I  should  retire.  I  slunk 
away  as  if  the  world's  gates  had 
closed  behind  me. 

Escaped  to  Eendel's  affectionate 
guidance,  I  wandered  with  erring 
footsteps  through  fields  and  woods  ; 
sweat-drops  of  anguish  fell  from  my 
brow,  deep  groans  broke  from  my 
bosom,  within  me  raged  a  wild 
frenzy. 

I  know  not  how  long  it  had  lasted, 
when  on  a  sunny  heath  I  found  my- 
self held  by  the  sleeve.  I  stood  still, 
and  looked  around  me.     It  was  the 


92  SCHLEMIHL. 


grey-coated  stranger ;  he  seemed  to 
have  followed  me  till  he  was  out  of 
breath.     He  instantly  began,  — 

"  I  had  announced  myself  for  to- 
day ;  you  have  hardly  been  able  to 
wait  so  long,  but  all  is  well ;  you 
will  take  good  counsel ;  exchange 
your  shadow  again,  it  only  waits 
your  commands ;  and  then  turn  back. 
Vou  will  be  welcome  in  the  forester's 
garden:  it  was  but  a  jest..  Rascal, 
who  has  betrayed  you,  and  who  is 
a  suitor  to  your  betrothed,  I  will 
dispose  of:  the  fellow  is  ripe." 

I  stood  there  still,  as  if  I  were 
asleep.  "  Announced'  for  to-day  ?  " 
I  reckoned  the  time  over  again  ;  it 
was  so.  I  had  erred  in  my  calcula- 
tions. I  put  my  right  hand  on  the 
bag  in  my  bosom  ;  he  discovered  my 
meaning,  and  drew  back  two  paces. 

"  No,  Sir  Count,  that  is  in  good 
hands,   that    you    may    retain."      I 


SCHLEMIIII.. 


looked  on  him  with  staring  and  in- 
quiring eyes.  He  spoke  :  "  May  I 
ask  for  a  trifling  memento  ?  Be  so 
good  as  to  sign  this  note."  The 
following  words  were  on  the  parch- 
ment he  held  :  — 

"  I  herel)y  promise  to  deliver  over 
my  soul  to  the  bearer  after  its  natural 
separation  from  my  body." 

I  looked  with  dumb  astonishment, 
now  on  the  grey  unknown,  and  now 
on  the  writing.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  dipped  a  new  pen  in  a  drop 
of  my  blood,  which  was  flowing  from 
a  scratch  made  by  a  thorn  in  my 
hand.     He  handed  the  pen  to  me. 

"  Who  are  you,  then  ?  "  I  at  last 
inquired.  "  What  does  that  mat- 
ter?" he  answered.  "Don't  you 
see  what  I  am  ?  a  poor  devil ;  a  sort 
of  philosopher  or  alchemist,  who 
receives  spare  thanks  for  great 
favours  he  confers  on   his  friends : 


94  SCHLEMIHL. 


one  who  has  no  enjoyment  in  this 
world  except  a  little  experimentaliz- 
ing :  but  sign,  I  pray  —  ay,  j  ust  there 
on  the  right,  Peter  Schlemihl." 

I  shook  my  head.  '"  Forgive  me, 
sir,  for  I  will  not  sign."  "  Not !  " 
replied  he,  with  seeming  surprise, 
"  why  not  ?  " 

"  'T  is  an  affair  that  requires  some 
consideration,  —  to  add  my  soul  to 
my  shadow  in  the  bargain."  "  Oh, 
oh,"  he  exclaimed,  "  consideration !  " 
and  burst  into  a  loud  laugh.  "  May 
I  then  be  allowed  to  ask,  what  sort 
of  a  thing  is  your  soul  ?  Have  you 
ever  seen  it  ?  Do  you  know  what 
will  become  of  it  when  you  are  once 
departed  ?  Rejoice  that  you  have 
found  somebody  to  take  notice  of 
it ;  to  buy,  even  during  your  life- 
time, the  reversion  of  this  X,  this 
galvanic  power,  this  polarizing  in- 
fluence, or  whatever  the  silly  trifle 


SCHLEMIHL 


may  turn  out  to  be  ;  to  pay  for  it 
with  your  bodily  shadow,  with  some- 
thing really  substantial,  —  the  hand 
of  your  mistress,  the  fulfilment  of 
your  prayers.  Or  will  you  rather 
deliver  over  the  sweet  maiden  to 
that  contemptible  scoundrel,  Mr. 
Rascal  ?  No,  no !  look  to  that  with 
your  own  eyes.  Come  hither ;  I  will 
lend  you  the  wishing-cap  too  (he 
drew  something  from  his  pocket), 
and  we  \\ill  have  a  ramble  unseen 
through  the  forest-garden." 

I  must  confess  I  was  sadly  ashamed 
to  be  thus  laughed  at  by  this  fellow. 
I  hated  him  from  the  bottom  of  my 
soul ;  and  I  believe  this  personal 
antipathy  prevented  me,  more  than 
my  principles,  from  giving  the  re- 
quired signature  for  my  shadow, 
necessary  as  it  was  to  me  The 
thought  was  unbearable,  that  I 
should    undertake   such   a   walk   in 


96  SCHLEMIHL. 

his  company  This  sneaking  scoun- 
drel, this  scornful,  irritating  imp, 
placing  himself  betwixt  me  and  my 
beloved,  sporting  with  two  bleeding 
hearts,  roused  my  deepest  feelings. 
I  looked  on  what  had  passed  as 
ordained,  and  considered  my  misery 
as  irretrievable.  I  turned  upon  the 
man  and  said,  — 

"  Sir,  I  sold  you  my  shadow  for 
this  most  estimable  bag  of  yours : 
I  have  repented  it  enough ;  if  the 
bargain    can    be    annulled,    in    the 

name  of "     He  shook  his  head, 

looked  at  me  with  a  dark  frown. 
I  began  again,  '■  I  will  sell  you 
nothing  more  of  my  possessions, 
though  you  may  offer  as  high  a 
price  as  for  my  shadow ;  and 
I  will  sign  nothing.  Hence  you 
may  conclude  that  the  metamor- 
phosis to  which  you  invite  me 
would  perhaps    be   more   agreeable 


SCHLEMTHL.  97 

to  you  than  to  me.  Forgive  me, 
but  it  cannot  be  otherwise ;  let  us 
part." 

"  I  am  sorry,  Mr.  Schlemihl,  that 
you  so  capriciously  push  away  the 
favours  which  are  presented  to  you  ; 
but  I  may  be  more  fortunate  another 
time.  Farewell,  till  our  speedy  meet- 
ing. By  the  way,  you  will  allow  me 
to  mention  that  I  do  not  by  any 
means  permit  my  purchases  to  get 
mouldy ;  I  hold  them  in  special 
regard,  and  take  the  best  possible 
care  of  them." 

With  this  he  took  my  shadow  out 
of  his  pocket,  and  with  a  dexterous 
fling  it  was  unrolled  and  spread  out 
on  the  heath  on  the  sunny  side  of 
his  feet,  so  that  he  stood  between 
the  two  attendant  shadows,  mine 
and  his,  and  walked  away :  mine 
seemed  to  belong  to  him  as  much 
as  his  own  ;  it  accommodated  itself 
7 


9S  SCHLEMIHL. 


to  all  his  movements  and  all  his 
necessities. 

When  I  sa^Y  my  poor  shadow- 
again,  after  so  long  a  separation, 
and  found  it  applied  to  such  base 
uses,  at  a  moment  when  for  its  sake 
I  was  suffering  nameless  anguish, 
my  heart  broke  within  me,  and  I 
began  to  weep  most  bitterly.  The 
hated  one  walked  proudly  on  with 
his  spoil,  and  unblushingly  renewed 
his  proposals. 

"  You  may  have  it  —  't  is  but  a 
stroke  of  the  pen  ;  you  will  save, 
too,  your  poor  unhappy  Mina  from 
the  claws  of  the  vagabond  ;  save  her 
for  the  arms  of  the  most  honour- 
able Count.  'Tis  but  a  stroke  of 
the  pen,  I  say."  Tears  broke  forth 
with  new  \-iolence;  but  I  turned 
away,  and  beckoned  him  to  be 
gone. 

Bendel,  who  had  followed  my  steps 


SCHLEMIHL.  99 

to  the  present  spot,  approached  me 
full  of  sadness  at  this  instant.  The 
kind-hearted  fellow  perceived  me 
weeping,  and  observed  my  shadow, 
which  he  could  not  mistake,  attached 
to  the  figure  of  the  extraordinary, 
grey,  unknown  one,  and  he  en- 
deavoured by  force  to  put  me  in 
possession  of  my  property;  but  not 
Ijeing  able  to  lay  firm  hold  on  this 
subtle  thing,  he  ordered  the  old 
man,  in  a  peremptory  tone,  to  aban- 
don what  did  not  belong  to  him. 
He,  for  a  reply,  turned  his  back 
upon  my  well-meaning  servant,  and 
marched  away.  l^endel  followed 
him  closely,  and  lifting  up  the  stout 
black-thorn  cudgel  which  he  carried^ 
required  the  man  to  give  up  the 
shadow,  enforcing  the  command 
with  the  strength  of  his  nervous 
arm  ;  but  the  man,  accustomed  per- 
haps to  such  encounters,  bowed  his 


SCHLEMIHL. 


head,  raised  his  shoulders,  and 
walked  silently  and  calmly  over  the 
heath,  accompanied  by  my  shadow 
and  my  faithful  man.  For  a  long 
time  I  heard  the  dull  sound  echoed 
over  the  waste.  It  was  lost  at  last 
in  the  distance.  I  stood  alone  with 
my  misery  as  before. 


Thus  left  behind  on  the  dreary 
heath,  I  gave  vent  to  countless  tears, 
which  seemed  to  lighten  my  bosom 
of  its  intolerable  weight.  But  I  saw 
no  bounds,  no  outlet,  no  term  to 
my  terrible  misery;  and  with  wild 
impatience  I  sucked  in  the  poison 
which  the  mysterious  being  had 
poured  into  my  wounds.  When  I 
recalled  the  image  of  Mina,  her  soft 
and  lovely  form  appeared  pale  and 
weeping  before  me,  as   I  had  seen 


SCHLEMIHL. 


her  in  my  hour  of  ignommy ;  and 
the  shade  of  Rascal  impudently  and 
contumaciously  seemed  to  step  be- 
tween us.  I  veiled  my  face,  I  fled 
across  the  waste;  but  the  ghastly 
vision  still  pursued  me;  I  ran,  —  it 
was  close  to  me.  I  sank  breathless 
to  the  ground,  and  watered  it  with 
renewed  springs  of  tears. 

And  all  about  a  shadow !  —  a 
shadow  which  a  stroke  of  the  pen 
would  have  restored  to  me  !  I  mused 
again  on  the  strange  proposal  and 
my  refusal.  All  was  dark  and  des- 
olate within  me ;  T  had  neither 
argument  nor  reason  left. 

The  day  rolled  by.  I  calmed  my 
hunger  with  wild  fruits,  my  thirst 
with  the  nearest  mountain  stream. 
Night  approached ;  I  stretched  my- 
self under  a  tree.  The  damp  dawn 
awaked  me  from  a  heavy  sleep,  in 
which  I  had  heard  myself  groan  as 


SCHLEMIHL. 


if  Struggling  with  death.  Bendel 
had  surely  lost  my  traces,  and  I 
rejoiced  to  think  so.  I  determined 
to  return  no  more  among  men,  from 
whom  I  fled  like  the  shy  beasts  of 
the  mountain.  Thus  I  existed 
through  three  weary  days. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  I 
found  myself  on  a  shady  plain, 
where  the  sun  was  shining  brightly. 
I  sat  down  there  on  the  fragment  of 
rock  in  its  beam,  for  I  enjoyed  to 
bask  again  in  its  long-forbidden 
glance.  I  nourished  my  heart  with 
its  own  despair.  But  I  was  alarmed 
by  a  gentle  rustling.  I  looked 
eagerly  round  me  preparing  to  fly ; 
I  saw  no  one ;  but  there  passed 
by  on  the  sunny  sand  a  man's 
shadow  not  unlike  my  own,  wander- 
ing about  alone,  and  which  appeared 
straying  from  its  owner. 

A    mighty    impulse    was    roused 


SCHLEMIHL. 


within  me.  Shadow,  thought  I,  art 
thou  seeking  thy  master  ?  I  will  be 
he  ;  and  I  sprang  forward  to  possess 
myself  of  it.  I  imagined  that  if  I 
were  lucky  enough  to  get  into  its 
track,  I  could  so  arrange  that  its 
feet  should  just  meet  mine;  it  would 
then  attach  and  accommodate  itself 
to  me. 

The  shadow  on  my  moving  fled 
before  me,  and  I  was  compelled  to 
begin  an  active  chase  after  the  un- 
substantial wanderer.  The  eager 
desire  to  be  released  from  the  per- 
plexities in  which  I  stood,  armed  me 
with  unusual  strength.  It  fled  to  a 
distant  wood,  in  whose  obscurity  it 
necessarily  would  have  been  im- 
mediately lost.  I  saw  it ;  a  terror 
pierced  my  heart,  kindled  my  burn- 
ing desire,  and  gave  wings  to  my 
feet.  I  gained  on  the  shadow,  ap- 
proached it  nearer  and  nearer,  —  I 


104  SCHLEMIHL. 

was  within  reach  of  it.  It  stopped 
suddenly  and  turned  round  towards 
me ;  like  the  lion  pouncing  on  its 
prey,  I  sprang  forward  upon  it  with 
a  mighty  effort  to  take  possession. 
I  felt  most  unexpectedly  that  I  had 
dashed  against  something  which 
made  a  bodily  resistance.  I  received 
from  an  unseen  power  the  most  vio- 
lent thrust  which  a  human  being 
ever  felt.  The  working  of  terror 
was  acting  dreadfully  within  me ; 
its  effect  was  to  close  my  arms  as 
in  a  spasm,  to  seize  on  what  stood 
unseen  before  me.  I  staggered  on- 
wards, and  fell  prostrate  on  the 
ground;  beneath  me  on  his  back 
was  a  man  whom  I  held  fast,  and 
who  now  was  visible. 

The  whole  affair  was  now  naturally 
explained.  The  man  must  have  pos- 
sessed the  viewless  charm  which 
makes  the   possessor,   but   not    his 


1^ 


St'    «»- 


-vW 


%!J 


.  .  I  sprang  forward  to 
possess  myself  of  it .  .  . 


SCHLEMIHL. 


shadow,  invisible.  He  first  held  it, 
and  afterwards  had  thrown  it  away. 
T  looked  round,  and  immediately 
discovered  the  shadow  of  the  invis- 
ible charm.  I  leaped  up  and  sprang 
towards  it,  and  did  not  miss  at  last 
the  valuable  spoil ;  unseen  and 
shadowless,  I  held  the  charm  in  my 
hand. 

The  man  rose  up  speedily :  he 
looked  round  after  his  fortunate 
subduer,  not  being  able  to  discover 
in  the  broad  sunny  plain  either  him 
or  his  shadow,  which  he  sought  with 
the  greatest  anxiety ;  for  he  had  no 
reason  to  suspect,  and  no  time  to 
observe,  that  I  was  a  shadowless 
being.  As  soon  as  he  discovered 
that  every  trace  was  vanished,  he 
raised  his  hands  against  himself  in 
the  wildest  despair,  and  tore  his 
hair.  But  this  newly-acquired  trea- 
sure gave  me  the  means  and  the  dis- 


Io8  SCHLEMIHL. 


position  to  mingle  again  among  my 
fellow-men  No  pretext  was  want- 
ing for  palliating  to  my  own  mind 
this  despicable  robbery,  or,  rather, 
it  wanted  no  such  pretext.  With  a 
view  of  ridding  myself  of  any  inter 
nal  reproaches,  I  hurried  away,  not 
even  looking  back  on  the  unfortu- 
nate victim,  whose  agonized  tones 
I  heard  long  repeated  after  me.  So, 
at  least,  at  that  time  I  looked  upon 
the  circumstances  of  that  event. 

I  longed  to  go  to  the  forest-gar- 
den, in  order  to  inform  myself  of 
the  truth  of  what  the  hated  one  had 
announced  to  me  ;  but  I  knew  not 
w^here  I  was ;  and  in  order  to  inform 
myself  as  to  the  neighbourhood,  I 
mounted  the  nearest  hill,  and  saw 
from  its  brow  the  tower  of  the 
forest-garden  lying  at  my  feet.  My 
heart  beat  with  agitation,  and  tears, 
very  different  from  those  I  had  be- 


SCHLEMIHL.  1 09 


fore  shed,  burst  into  my  eyes.  I  was 
to  see  her  again.  An  anxious,  long- 
ing desire  hurried  my  steps  down 
the  straightest  path.  A  crowd  of 
peasants  I  passed  unseen  going  from 
town ;  they  were  talking  of  me  and 
of  Rascal,  and  of  the  forester.  I 
would  listen  to  nothing;  I  hastened 
by. 

I  walked  into  the  garden,  my 
bosom  trembling  with  the  alarm  of 
e.xpectation.  A  laugh  approached 
me.  I  shook,  looked  eagerly  around 
me,  but  could  perceive  nobody.  I 
moved  farther  forward,  and  a  noise 
as  of  the  pacing  of  human  feet 
seemed  near  me.  Still  I  could  see 
nothing ;  I  thought  my  ears  were 
deceived  ;  but  it  was  early,  —  nobody 
was  in  Count  Peter's  arbour,  the 
garden  was  empty.  I  rambled  over 
the  familiar  paths  until  I  came  near 
to  the  mansion.     I  heard  the  same 


SCHLEMIHL. 


sound  more  distinctly.  I  sat  down 
witli  a  sorrow-f  ul  heart  upon  a  bank 
immediately  opposite  the  front  door, 
in  a  sunny  spot.  It  appeared  to  me 
as  if  I  heard  the  invisible  imp  laugh- 
ing insultingly.  The  key  was  turned 
in  the  door,  which  opened ;  and  the 
forest-master  walked  out  with  papers 
in  his  hand.  I  felt  something  like 
a  mist  around  my  eyes ;  I  looked 
round,  and,  oh  horrible !  the  man 
in  the  grey  coat  was  sitting  close  to 
me,  looking  on  me  with  a  satanic 
smile.  He  had  drawn  his  wishing- 
cap  over  my  head.  At  his  feet  my 
shadow  and  his  own  lay  peacefully 
one  against  the  other ;  he  was  play- 
ing carelessly  with  the  well-known 
parchment,  which  he  held  in  his 
hand :  and  while  the  forest-master 
was  walking  backwards  and  for- 
wards in  the  shade  of  the  arbour, 
he   bent   himself    familiarly   to    my 


SCHLEMIHL. 


ear,  and  whispered  to  me  these 
words :  — 

"  Now,  then,  you  have  at  last  ac- 
cepted my  offer,  and  so  we  set  two 
heads  under  one  cap.  Very  good  ! 
very  good!  But  pray  give  me  my 
charm  again ;  you  do  not  want  it 
any  more,  and  are  too  honourable 
a  man  to  keep  what  does  not  belong 
to  you.  Xo  thanks  ;  I  assure  you  I 
lent  it  to  you  from  my  heart."  He 
took  it  gently  from  my  hand,  put  it 
into  his  pocket,  laughed  insultingly 
at  me,  and  so  loudly  that  the  forest- 
master  looked  round  attracted  by 
the  noise.  I  sat  there  as  if  I  had 
been  petrified. 

"  You  must  agree,"  he  rejoined, 
"  that  such  a  cap  is  much  more  con- 
venient. It  does  not  cover  its  pos- 
sessor alone,  but  his  shadow  also, 
and  as  many  people  Ijesides  as  he 
likes  to  have  with  him.     Look,  now. 


^CHLEMIHL. 


to-day  I  get  two  of  ye."  He  laughed 
again.  "  You  must  know,  Schle- 
mihl,  that  what  is  not  done  by  fair 
means  at  first,  may  be  enforced  at 
last ;  I  still  thought  you  would  have 
bought  the  trifle.  Take  back  your 
bride  (there  is  yet  time),  and  send 
Rascal  to  swing  on  the  gallows ;  that 
is  an  easy  matter  while  we  have  a 
rope  at  hand.  Hearken,  I  give  you 
the  cap  into  the  bargain." 

The  mother  came  forth,  and  this 
conversation  followed.  "  What  is 
my  Mina  doing .'' "  "Weeping." 
"  Simple  child !  but  can  it  not  be 
altered  ?  "  "  No,  indeed."  '•  But  to 
give  her  so  soon  to  another  —  O 
husband !  you  are  cruel  to  your 
own  child."  "  Mother,  you  don't  see 
clearly.  Even  before  she  has  wept 
out  her  childish  tears,  when  she  finds 
herself  the  wife  of  a  rich  and  noble 
man.  she  will  be  consoled  for   her 


SCHLEMIHL. 


sorrows  as  if  awakened  from  a 
dream.  She  will  thank  lieaven  and 
us;  and  that  you  will  see."  "God 
grant  it !  "  "  She  already  possesses 
a  pretty  handsome  dowry ;  but  after 
the  noise  made  by  that  unfortunate 
adventurer,  do  you  believe  that  so 
Ijrilliant  a  proposal  as  Mr.  Rascal's 
will  soon  or  easily  be  found .''  Do 
you  know  what  wealth  he  possesses.^ 
He  has  six  million  florins  in  landed 
pro|)erty  in  this  country  paid  for  in 
cash,  free  from  all  incumbrances.  I 
have  the  writings  in  hand.  It  was 
he  who  forestalled  me  always  in  the 
best  purchases.  Besides  this,  he  has 
in  his  portfolio  bills  of  exchange  on 
Mr  Thomas  Jones  for  above  three 
millions  and  a  half  of  florins."  "He 
must  have  pilfered  at  a  pretty  rate." 
"  That  's  all  nonsense.  He  has 
hoarded  wisely  where  others  fool- 
ishly  squandered."      "  But    a    man 


114  SCHLEMIHL. 


who  has  worn  a  livery  !  "  "  Folly  ! 
he  has  an  irreproachable  shadow  !  " 
"  You  are  right,  but  —  " 

The  man  in  the  grey  coat  laughed, 
and  looked  full  in  my  face.  The 
door  opened,  and  Mina  came  out ; 
she  was  supporting  herself  on  her 
maid's  arm ;  silent  tears  were  flow- 
ing over  her  pale  and  lovely  cheeks. 
She  sat  down  in  a  chair  placed  for 
her  under  the  lime-trees,  and  her 
father  seated  himself  beside  her. 
He  gently  seized  her  hand,  and 
while  she  wept  still  more  bitterly, 
addressed  her  in  the  gentlest 
accents. 

"  Thou  art  my  best,  my  dearest 
child ;  thou  wilt  be  prudent  too ; 
thou  wilt  not  grieve  thy  old  father, 
who  thinks  only  of  making  thee 
happy.  I  well  understand,  my  sweet 
girl,  that  this  has  sadly  shaken  thee; 
thou  hast  wonderfully  escaped  from 


SCHLEMIHL.  I15 

misery.  Before  the  shameless  cheat 
was  unveiled,  thou  lovedst  that  un- 
worthy one  most  affectionately.  I 
know  it,  Mina,  but  I  do  not  reproach 
thee.  I,  too,  loved  him,  while  I 
deemed  him  to  be  a  rich  and  noble 
man.  But  thou  hast  seen  in  what 
it  ended.  The  veriest  vagabond  has 
his  own  shadow  ;  and  shall  my  be- 
loved, my  only  daughter,  be  married 
to  —  Oh,  no  !  thou  thinkest  of  him 
no  more.  Listen,  my  Mina;  a  lover 
addresses  thee,  who  does  not  dread 
the  sun,—  an  honourable  man,  who 
is  no  Count  indeed,  but  who  pos- 
sesses ten  millions,  ten  times  more 
than  thou  hast  ever  possessed,  —  a 
man  who  will  make  my  beloved 
child  happy.  Do  not  oppose  me ; 
make  no  reply;  be  my  good,  obe- 
dient daughter.  Let  thy  affectionate 
father  care  for  thee,  and  dry  thy 
tears.     Promise  me  to  give  thy  hand 


Il6  SCHLEMIHL. 

to  Mr.  Rascal ;  say,  wilt  thou  promise 
me?" 

She  answered  with  a  dying  voice, 
"  I  have  no  farther  will  nor  wish  on 
earth  ;  let  my  father's  will  be  accom- 
plished !  "  On  this  Mr.  Rascal  was 
announced,  and  daringly  joined  the 
circle.  Mina  lay  in  a  swoon.  My 
hated  evil  genius  fixed  his  eyes 
angrily  on  me,  and  whispered  in 
these  rapid  words,  "  Can  you  bear 
that  too  ?  What  runs  in  your  veins 
instead  of  blood  ?  "  With  a  swift 
motion  he  made  a  slight  wound  in 
my  hand  ;  blood  gushed  forth  :  he 
cried,  "  Red  blood,  truly !  sign." 
The  parchment  and  the  pen  were 
in  my  hand. 


Chapter  IV. 

I  SHALL  expose  myself,  dear 
Chamisso,  to  your  criticism,  and 
not  seek  to  elude  it.  I  have  long 
visited  myself  with  the  heaviest 
judgment,  for  I  have  fed  the  de- 
vouring worm  in  my  heart.  This 
terrible  moment  of  my  existence  is 
everlastingly  present  to  my  soul ; 
and  I  can  contemplate  it  only  in  a 
doubting  glance,  with  humility  and 
119 


SCHLEMIHL 


contrition.  My  friend,  he  who  care- 
lessly takes  a  step  out  of  the  straight 
path,  is  imperceptibly  impelled  into 
another  course,  in  which  he  will  be 
deluded  farther  and  farther  astray. 
For  him  in  vain  the  pole-star  t\dnkles 
in  the  heavens;  there  is  no  choice 
for  him;  he  must  slide  down  the 
declivity,  and  offer  himself  up  to 
Nemesis,  After  the  false  and  pre- 
cipitate step  which  had  brought 
down  the  curse  upon  me,  I  had 
daringly  thrust  myself  upon  the  fate 
of  another  being.  What  now  re- 
mained, but  where  I  had  sowed  per- 
dition, and  prompt  salvation  was 
urgent,  —  again  blindly  to  rush  for- 
ward to  save  ?  for  the  last  knell  had 
tolled.  Do  not  think  so  basely  of 
me,  my  Chamisso,  as  to  imagine 
that  I  should  have  thought  any  price 
too  dear,  or  should  have  been  more 
sparing  \vith  anything   I   possessed 


SCHLEMIHL. 


than  with  my  gold  ?  Xo  i  but  my 
soul  was  filled  with  unconqueral)le 
hatred  towards  this  mysterious 
sneaker  in  crooked  paths.  Perhaps 
I  might  be  unjust  to  him,  yet  my 
mind  revolted  against  all  communi- 
cation with  him.  But  here,  as  often 
in  my  life,  and  generally  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  world,  an  accident  rather 
than  an  intention  determined  the 
issue.  Afterwards  I  became  recon- 
ciled to  myself.  I  learnt,  in  the 
first  place,  to  respect  necessity,  and 
those  accidents  which  are  yet  more 
the  result  of  necessity  than  any  will 
of  our  own.  Then  was  I  also  taught 
to  obey  this  necessity  as  a  wise  ar- 
rangement of  Providence,  which  sets 
all  this  machinery  in  action,  in  which 
we  only  co-operate  by  moving  and 
setting  other  wheels  in  motion.  What 
must  be,  will  happen  ;  what  should 
have   been,   was ;    and   not  without 


SCHLEMIHL. 


the  intervention  of  that  Providence, 
which  I  at  last  learnt  to  reverence 
in  my  fate,  and  in  the  fate  of  her 
who  controlled  mine, 

I  know  not  if  I  should  ascribe  it 
to  the  strain  of  my  soul  under  the 
pressure  of  such  mighty  emotions, 
or  to  the  exhaustion  of  my  physical 
strength,  weakened  by  the  unwonted 
abstinence  of  the  days  gone  by,  or 
to  that  fatal  agitation  which  the 
approach  of  this  grey  adversary  pro- 
duced through  my  whole  frame ;  but 
certain  it  is,  that  while  preparing  to 
sign,  I  fell  into  a  deep  swoon,  and 
lay  a  long  time  as  in  the  arms  of 
death. 

On  coming  to  my  recollection,  the 
first  tones  that  reached  my  ears  were 
the  stamping  of  feet  and  cursing.  I 
opened  my  eyes ;  it  was  dark  ;  my 
hated  companion  was  there  holding 
me,  but  scolding  thus :  "  Now,  is  not 


SCHLEMIHL.  123 

that  behaving  like  a  silly  old  woman  ? 
Let  the  gentleman  rise  up,  con- 
clude the  business  as  he  intended ; 
or,  perhaps  he  has  other  thoughts, 
would  like  still  to  weep."  With 
difficulty  I  raised  myself  from  the 
ground  where  I  lay,  and  looked 
silently  around  me.  The  evening 
was  advanced ;  festive  music  broke 
from  the  brightly-lighted  forest- 
house,  and  groups  of  company  were 
scattered  over  the  garden  walks. 
Some  drew  near  who  were  engaged 
in  conversation,  and  seated  them- 
selves on  the  benches.  They  spoke 
of  the  nuptials  of  the  daughter  of 
the  house  with  the  rich  Mr.  Rascal ; 
they  had  taken  place  in  the  morning. 
All,  —  all  was  over. 

I  struck  away  with  my  hand  from 
my  head  the  wishing-cap  of  the 
instantly-vanishing  unknown  one, 
and  fled  in  silence  to  conceal  myself 


124  SCHLEMIHL. 

in  the  deepest  darkness  of  the  wood, 
hurrying  to  the  garden  gate  before 
Count  Peter's  arbour.  But  my  evil 
genius  accompanied  me  unseen,  pur- 
suing me  with  bitter  words.  "  This, 
then,  is  the  reward  one  is  to  get  for 
the  trouble  of  taking  care,  through 
the  live-long  day,  of  the  nervous 
gentleman  I  And  I  am  then  to  he 
fooled  at  last  ?  Very  well,  very  w^ell, 
Mr.  Wronghead ;  fly  from  me,  but 
we  are  inseparable.  You  have  my 
gold,  and  I  your  shadow  ;  they  leave 
no  rest  to  either.  Did  anybody  ever 
hear  of  a  shadow  abandoning  its 
master  ?  Yours  draws  me  after  you, 
till  you  condescend  to  take  it  again, 
and  I  get  rid  of  it.  ^Vhat  you  have 
sold,  or  neglected  to  do,  of  your  own 
free-^\'ill,  that  mil  you  be  compelled 
to  repair  with  repugnance  and  weari- 
ness ;  man  cannot  oppose  his  des- 
tiny."    He  continued  to  talk  in  the 


SCHLEMIHL. 


same  tone  ;  I  fled  from  him  in  vain, 
—  he  was  always  behind  me,  ever 
present,  and  speaking  sneeringly  of 
gold  and  shadow.  T  could  not  repose 
on  a  single  thought. 

Through  untrodden,  vacant  streets 
1  hastened  to  my  abode.  I  stood 
before  it,  looked  up,  and  hardly 
recognized  it.  Behind  the  closed 
windows  no  light  was  burning  ;  the 
doors  were  shut ;  no  servants  ap- 
peared to  be  moving.  He  stood  I)e- 
hind  me,  and  laughed  aloud.  "  Ay, 
ay !  but  your  Bendel  is  certainly  at 
home;  he  was  sent  hither  so  thor- 
oughly exhausted  that  no  doubt 
he  has  carefully  kept  house."  He 
laughed  again.  "  He  will  have  some 
stories  to  amuse  you ;  take  courage. 
Good-night  for  to-day,  till  an  early 
interview." 

I  rang  again,  and  a  light  appeared, 
liendel  asked  from  within,  "  Who  is 


126  SCHLEMIHL. 

there  ?  "  When  he  heard  my  voice, 
the  poor  fellow  could  scarcely  con- 
tam  his  joy  ;  the  door  flew  open, 
and  we  lay  weeping  in  each  other's 
arms.  He  was  greatly  changed, — 
weak  and  ill.  ISIy  hair  had  become 
wholly  grey. 

He  led  me  through  the  vacant 
chambers  to  an  inner  apartment, 
which  remained  furnished.  He 
fetched  meat  and  drink.  We  sat 
down ;  he  again  began  to  weep ;  he 
then  told  me  that  he  had  lately 
beaten  the  grey-clad,  meagre  man, 
whom  he  had  met  'n'ith  my  shadow, 
so  lustily  and  so  long,  that  he  lost 
all  trace  of  me,  and  had  sunk  ex- 
hausted to  the  earth ;  that  after- 
wards, not  being  able  to  discover 
me,  he  had  returned  home,  and  that 
the  mob,  excited  by  Rascal,  had 
raised  a  tumult,  broken  the  windows 
of  the  house,  and  given  full  reins  to 


SCHLEMIHL.  127 


their  love  of  destruction.  Thus  they 
had  rewarded  their  benefactors.  One 
after  another  my  servants  had  fled. 
The  police  of  the  place  had  ordered 
me  to  leave  the  town  as  a  suspicious 
person,  allowing  me  a  delay  of  only 
four-and-twenty  hours  to  quit  their 
territory.  He  had  a  great  deal  to 
add  to  what  I  already  knew  of  Ras- 
cal's wealth  and  espousals.  This 
scoundrel,  who  had  originated  all 
the  proceedings  against  me,  must 
have  possessed  my  secret  from  the 
beginning.  It  seemed  that,  attracted 
by  the  gold,  he  had  forced  himself 
upon  me,  and  had  procured  a  key 
for  that  treasure-chest  where  he  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  fortune,  which 
he  now  seemed  determined  to  enjoy. 
Bendel  told  me  all  with  abundant 
tears,  and  wept  anew  for  joy  at  see- 
ing me  again,  and  again  possessing 
me ;  and  he  rejoiced  that,  after  all 


128  SCHLEMIHL 


his  fears  as  to  what  misfortune 
might  have  brought  me,  he  found 
me  bearing  everything  with  calm- 
ness and  fortitude ;  for  such  was 
the  form  in  which  despair  reigned 
over  me,  while  I  saw  gigantic  and 
unchangeable  misery  before  me.  I 
had  wept  away  all  my  tears  ;  grief 
could  force  out  no  other  accent  of 
distress  from  my  bosom.  I  raised 
against  it,  coldly  and  unconcernedly, 
my  uncovered  head. 

"  Bendel,"  said  I,  "  you  know  my 
fate.  Not  without  certain  guilt  does 
the  heavy  penalty  fall  on  me.  You, 
innocent  being  as  you  are,  shall  no 
longer  bind  your  destiny  to  mine ;  I 
will  no  longer  let  it  be  so.  To-night 
I  will  hasten  away.  Saddle  me  my 
horse.  I  ride  alone ;  you  must  re- 
main ;  I  require  it.  Some  chests  of 
gold  must  yet  be  here.  They  are 
now  yours  ;  I  shall  wander  restlessly 


SCHLEMIHL.  129 

through  the  world.  But  if  a  happier 
day  should  dawn,  and  bliss  should 
again  smile  upon  me,  I  will  faith 
fully  think  of  you ;  for  on  your  faith- 
ful bosom  I  have  wept  in  many  a 
weary,  wretched,  sorrowful  hour." 

The  honest  fellow  obeyed  with  a 
i>roken  heart  this  last  command  of 
his  master.  It  agonized  his  soul ; 
but  I  was  deaf  to  his  representations 
and  entreaties,  and  blind  to  his  tears. 
Me  brought  the  horse  to  me;  I 
pressed  him  while  he  wept  against 
my  breast,  sprang  into  the  saddle, 
and  pursued  my  way  under  the 
mantle  of  night  from  the  grave  of 
my  existence,  indifferent  as  to  the 
direction  my  horse  might  take.  On 
the  earth  I  had  no  goal,  no  wish,  no 
hope. 


130  SCHLEMIHL. 

A  foot  passenger  soon  joined  me, 
and  after  walking  some  time  by 
my  horse's  side,  begged  me,  as  we 
were  bound  the  same  way,  to  be 
allowed  to  throw  the  cloak  which 
he  carried  on  the  crupper  ;  I  quietly 
allowed  him  to  do  so.  He  thanked 
me  with  a  graceful  address  for  this 
trifling  service,  praised  my  horse,  and 
thence  took  the  opportunity  of  laud- 
ing the  happiness  and  the  influence 
of  the  wealthy.  He  went  on,  I  know 
not  how,  in  a  sort  of  soliloquy,  for  I 
was  only  a  hearer. 

He  unfolded  his  views  of  life  and 
the  world,  and  soon  introduced  meta- 
physics, from  whence  the  word  was 
to  emanate  which  should  solve  all 
mysteries.  He  developed  his  theme 
with  great  distinctness,  and  led  for- 
ward to  its  deductions. 

Vou  know  very  well  that  I  have 
often     confessed,    since     I     drove 


SCHLEMIHL. 


through  the  school  of  philosophy, 
that  I  do  not  consider  myself  as  by 
any  means  calculated  for  philosoph- 
ical speculations,  and  that  I  have 
altogether  renounced  that  branch 
of  study.  From  that  time  I  have 
let  many  things  be  settled  as  they 
could,  renounced  much  which  I 
might  have  understood  or  learnt, 
and,  following  your  counsels  by 
trusting  to  my  innate  senses  that 
voice  of  the  heart,  I  have  gone  for- 
ward in  my  own  road  as  far  as  I  was 
a!)le.  This  rhetorician  appeared  to 
me  to  build  his  firmly-cemented 
edifice  with  great  ability.  It  seemed 
to  bear  itself  on  its  firm  and  solid 
foundation,  and  stood,  as  it  were,  on 
its  o^vn  absolute  necessity.  Then  I 
missed  in  the  edifice  what  I  particu- 
larly sought ;  and  it  was  to  me  merely 
a  piece  of  art,  whose  completeness 
and  decorations  served  only  to  de- 


132  SCHLEMIHL. 

light  the  eye.  But  I  listened  willingly 
to  the  eloquent  man,  who  seemed  to 
transfer  to  himself  my  observations 
on  my  own  sorrows ;  and  I  should 
have  cheerfully  surrendered  myself 
to  him,  if  he  would  have  taken  pos- 
session of  my  soul  as  well  as  of  my 
understanding. 

In  the  meanwhile  time  passed  on, 
and  morning  dawn  had  imperceptibly 
stolen  over  the  heaven.  I  trembled 
as  I  looked  around,  and  saw  the 
magnificent  colours  blending  in  the 
east,  and  heralding  the  ascending 
sun ;  and  at  that  hour,  when  the 
shadows  stretch  themselves  out  in 
all  their  extension,  no  shelter,  no 
protection  was  to  be  discovered  — 
and  I  was  not  alone !  I  looked  upon 
my  companion,  and  again  I  trembled ; 
it  was  even  the  man  in  the  grey 
coat. 

He  smiled  at  my  alarms,  and  with- 


SCHLEMIHL.  133 

out  allowing  me  to  utter  a  word, 
began,  "  Let  us  then,  as  is  the  cus- 
tom of  the  world,  unite  our  different 
advantages  for  a  while ;  we  have 
always  time  to  separate.  The  road 
along-side  the  mountain,  if  you  have 
not  already  thought  about  it,  is  the 
only  one  which  you  can  prudently 
take.  Vou  dare  not  descend  into 
the  valley ;  and  over  the  hill  you 
will  hardly  think  of  returning,  as  it 
would  lead  you  whence  you  came  ; 
and  the  road  in  which  you  are  is 
just  mine.  I  see  the  uprising  sun 
makes  you  look  pale ;  I  will  lend 
you  your  shadow  while  we  remain 
together,  and  this  may  induce  you 
to  bear  my  being  near  to  you.  Your 
Kendel  is  no  longer  with  you,  but 
I  will  do  you  good  service.  Vou  do 
not  love  me  :  I  am  sorry  for  it ;  but 
you  may  make  use  of  me  notwith- 
standing.    The  devil  is  not  so  black 


134  SCHLEMIHL. 


as  he  .is  represented.  Yesterday  you 
vexed  me,  't  is  true,  but  I  will  bear 
you  no  grudge  to-day.  I  have 
shortened  your  way  thus  far,  as  you 
must  yourself  confess ;  now  take 
your  shadow  on  trial  again." 

The  sun  had  arisen ;  travellers 
were  approaching  us  on  the  road ; 
and  in  spite  of  an  internal  repug- 
nance, I  accepted  his  offer.  He 
smiled,  and  let  my  shadow  fall  on 
the  ground ;  it  took  its  station  upon 
that  of  my  horse,  and  cheerfully 
moved  forward.  My  mind  was  in 
a  strange  mood.  I  rode  by  a  body 
of  country  people,  who  were  respect- 
fully making  room,  with  their  heads 
uncovered  as  for  a  wealthy-looking 
man.  I  rode  farther,  and  looked 
aside  from  my  horse  with  eager 
eyes  and  beating  heart  on  what  was 
once  my  shadow,  but  which  I  had 
now  borrowed  from  a  stranger,  ay, 
from  an  enemy. 


SCHLEMIHL.  135 

He  came  on  carelessly  by  my  side, 
and  whistled  a  tune  ;  he  on  foot,  I 
on  horseback.  A  dizziness  seized 
me,  the  temptation  was  too  great ; 
I  hastily  turned  the  reins,  drove 
both  spurs  into  the  horse,  and  thus 
went  off  at  full  speed  through  a 
cross-road.  I  could  not  elope  with 
the  shadow;  it  slipped  away  when 
the  horse  started,  and  waited  on  the 
road  for  its  lawful  o\\Tier  I  was 
obliged  to  turn  round  ashamed, 
the  man  in  the  grey  coat,  as  he 
unconcernedly  finished  his  tune, 
began  to  laugh  at  me,  and  fixing  the 
shadow  again  in  its  place,  informed 
me  it  would  only  stick  to  me  and 
remain  with  me  when  I  had  properly 
and  lawfully  become  possessed  of 
it.  "  I  hold  you  fast,"  he  cried, 
"  fast  attached  to  the  shadow ;  you 
cannot  escape  from  me.  A  wealthy 
man  like  you  may  want  a  shadow, — 


136  SCHLEMIHL, 

likely  enough ;  and  you  are  only  to 
blame  for  not  having  earlier  looked 
into  the  matter." 

T  continued  my  journey  on  the 
same  road  as  before.  I  possessed 
all  the  comforts  of  life  and  all  its 
luxuries.  I  could  move  about  freely 
and  easily ;  and  I  possessed  a  shadow 
too,  though  but  a  borrowed  one ;  and 
I  imposed  everywhere  that  rever- 
ence which  wealth  commands  —  but 
death  was  at  my  heart.  My  mar- 
vellous conductor,  who  represented 
himself  to  be  the  unworthy  slave  of 
the  richest  man  in  the  world,  had 
extraordinary  readiness  as  a  servant, 
and  was  exceedingly  dexterous  and 
clever,  the  very  model  of  a  valet  for 
a  wealthy  gentleman ;  but  he  never 
separated  himself  from  my  side,  and 
incessantly  plagued  me,  exhibiting 
the  greatest  assurance,  in  order  that 
I  should  conclude  the  bargain  with 


SCHLEMIHL 


him  respecting  the  shadow  if  it  were 
only  to  get  rid  of  him.  He  was  as 
troublesome  as  hateful  to  me ;  I 
always  stood  in  awe  of  him.  I  had 
made  myself  dependent  on  him  ;  I 
was  still  in  his  power,  and  he  had 
again  driven  me  into  the  vanities  of 
the  world  which  I  had  abandoned  ; 
I  was  compelled  to  allow  to  his  elo- 
quence full  mastery  over  me,  and 
almost  felt  he  was  in  the  right.  A 
wealthy  man  ought  to  have  a  shadow 
in  the  world  ;  and  so  long  as  I  wished 
to  occupy  that  station  which  he  had 
induced  me  to  fill,  there  was  only 
one  outlet  for  me.  But  on  this  1 
determined,  having  sacrificed  my 
love  and  made  my  existence  a  curse, 
I  would  not  transfer  my  soul  to  this 
being  —  no,  not  for  all  the  shadows 
in  the  world ;  but  I  knew  not  how  it 
would  end. 

One  day  we  were  sitting  before  a 


13S  SCHLEMIHL. 

cave  which  the  travellers  who  had 
to  cross  the  mountain  were  accus- 
tomed to  visit.  There  was  heard 
the  noise  of  subterraneous  streams 
roaring  from  unmeasurable  deeps  ; 
and  the  stone  that  was  thrown  into 
the  abyss  seemed  in  its  echoing  fall 
to  find  no  bottom.  He  depicted  to 
me,  as  he  had  often  done,  mth  a 
luxuriant  fancy,  and  in  the  glo\\ing 
charms  of  the  brightest  colouring, 
careful  and  detailed  pictures  of  the 
brilliant  figure  I  might  make  in  the 
world  by  means  of  my  purse  if  I 
had  only  my  shadow  again  in  my 
possession.  My  elbows  were  sup- 
ported on  my  knees  while  I  covered 
my  face  with  my  hands,  listening  to 
the  evil  one,  my  heart  twice  rent 
between  temptation  and  my  own 
earnest  will.  Such  internal  discord 
I  could  no  longer  endure,  and  the 
decisive  struggle  began. 


SCHLEMIIIL.  139 


"  You  seem  to  forget,  good  sir, 
that  I  have  allowed  you  to  remain 
in  my  company  only  on  certain  con- 
ditions, and  that  I  retained  for  my- 
self my  unrestrained  liberty."  '"If 
you  order  me,  I  shall  move  off  :  " 
the  threat  was  one  to  which  he  was 
accustomed.  I  ceased ;  he  sat  him- 
self quietly  down,  and  began  to  roll 
up  my  shadow.  I  grew  pale,  l)ut  I 
stood  dumb  while  he  did  so.  There 
was  a  long  silence.  He  thus  broke 
it:  — 

"  Vou  cannot  endure  me,  sir!  you 
hate  me  —  I  know  it ;  but  why  do 
you  hate  me .'  Is  it  because  when 
you  attacked  me  on  the  highway 
you  attempted  to  steal  my  charm 
by  force .''  or  is  it  because  you  en- 
deavoured fraudulently  to  get  pos- 
sessed of  my  property,  the  shadow 
which  had  been  confided  to  your 
simple  honour  ?     For  myself,   I   do 


t40  SCHLEMIHL. 


not  hate  you  for  that;  it  is  quite 
natural  you  should  seek  to  turn 
your  advantages,  your  cunning,  your 
strength  to  good  account.  That  you 
have  the  most  rigid  principles,  and 
are  honesty  itself,  is  a  hobby-horse 
belief  of  your  own,  to  which  I  can 
have  no  objection.  My  notions  are 
not  so  strict  as  yours;  I  only  act 
according  to  your  notions.  But  did 
I  ever  attempt  to  strangle  you  in 
order  to  possess  your  valuable  soul, 
to  which  I  really  have  a  great  lik- 
ing ?  Have  I,  for  the  sake  of  my 
bartered  purse,  let  loose  a  servant 
upon  you,  and  endeavoured  to  run 
away  with  it  ? "  I  could  answer 
nothing  to  all  this,  and  he  continued, 
"  Well  then,  sir,  well !  You  cannot 
endure  me,  I  understand  it,  and  am 
not  displeased  with  you  for  that. 
It  is  clear  we  must  part,  and  you 
really  are   become  very  tedious   to 


SCHLEMIHL.  141 

me  ;  but  to  get  rid  of  my  perplex- 
ing presence  altogether  for  tlie 
future,  I  will  give  you  a  piece  of 
advice, — buy  the  thing  of  me."  I 
held  out  the  purse  to  him.  "  At  the 
price  .'■  "  "  Xo  !  "  I  sighed  deeply, 
and  began  again.  "  Well,  then,  I 
insist  upon  it,  we  must  part ;  do  not 
stop  up  my  way  any  longer  in  a 
world  which  is  wide  enough  for 
Ijoth  of  us."  He  smiled,  and  re- 
plied, "  I  go,  sir ;  l)ut  I  will  first 
instruct  you  how  to  summon  me, 
when  you  wish  for  the  presence  of 
your  most  humble  slave  ;  you  need 
only  shake  your  purse,  that  its 
exhaustless  pieces  may  tinkle,  and 
the  sound  will  draw  me  instantly  to 
you.  Every])ody  in  this  world  thinks 
of  his  own  interests  ;  you  see  I  also 
am  attending  to  yours,  for  I  give 
you  spontaneously  a  new  power. 
Excellent   purse !    and   even   if   the 


142  SCHLEMIHL. 


moths  had  devoured  your  shadow, 
there  would  be  a  strong  bond  of 
union  between  us.  But  enough  : 
you  possess  me  while  you  possess 
my  gold  ;  however  distant,  command 
your  servant.  You  know  I  am  al- 
ways ready  to  do  honour  to  my 
friends,  and  that  I  have  for  the 
wealthy  an  especial  regard ;  that 
you  yourself  have  seen.  But  as  for 
your  shadow,  sir,  allow  me  to  assure 
you  your  shadow  will  never  be  yours 
but  on  one  condition." 

Visions  of  old  time  floated  in  my 
soul.  I  inquired  hastily,  "  Did  Mr. 
Jones  give  you  his  signature  ? "  He 
smiled:  "With  so  good  a  friend  it 
was  not  necessary."  "  Where  is  he 
—  where  ?  By  Heavens,  I  will 
know !  "  He  put  his  hand  slowly 
into  his  pocket,  and  drew  out  by  the 
hair  the  pale  and  ghastly  form  of 
Thomas  Jones.     Its  blue  and  deadly 


SCHLEMIHL.  143 

lips  tremljled  with  the  dreadful 
words,  "  yiisto  jiidicio  Dei  jiidicatiis 
sum  ;  jiisto  jttdicio  Dei  condemnatiis 
siwiT  I  was  horror-struck.  I  dashed 
the  clinking  purse  hastily  into  the 
abyss,  and  uttered  these  last  words  : 
"  I  conjure  thee,  in  the  name  of 
God,  monster,  begone,  and  never 
again  appear  before  these  eyes." 
He  rose  up  with  a  gloomy  frown, 
and  vanished  instantaneously  be- 
hind the  dark  masses  of  rock  which 
surrounded  that  wild  and  savage 
place. 


•'Jfr' 


'  -^^  W      ij. 


■^ 


'^ 


-$■' 


^:.-i^^ 


^     ' 


Chapter  V. 

T  SAT  there  shadowless  and  penni- 
less ;  but  a  heavy  weight  had 
iDeen  removed  from  my  bosom,  and 
I  was  calm.  Had  I  not  lost  my 
love,  or  had  that  loss  left  me  free 
from  self-reproach,  I  believe  I  might 
have  been  happy ;  but  I  knew  not 
what  steps  I  should  take.  I  searched 
lo  145 


146  SCHLEMIHL. 


my  pockets,  and  found  that  a  few 
pieces  of  gold  remained  to  me  ;  I 
counted  them  smilingly.  I  had  left 
my  horse  at  the  inn  below.  I  was 
ashamed  to  return  there,  at  least 
till  the  setting  of  the  sun  —  and  the 
sun  was  high  in  the  heavens.  I  laid 
myself  down  in  the  shade  of  a 
neighbouring  tree,  and  fell  quietly 
asleep. 

The  sweetest  images  danced  cheer- 
fully around  me  in  my  delightful 
dreams.  Mina,  crowned  with  a  gar- 
land of  flowers,  hovered  over  me, 
and  cheered  me  with  an  affectionate 
smile.  The  noble  Bendel  was  there, 
too,  weaving  a  flowery  wreath,  and 
approaching  me  with  a  friendly 
greeting.  Many  others  also  were 
there,  and  among  them  methought 
I  saw  even  thee,  Chamisso,  in  the 
distant  crowd.  A  bright  light  shone, 
but   there   were   no    shadows ;    and 


SCHLEMTHL.  147 

what  was  more  singular,  all  appeared 
happy  —  flowers  and  songs,  and  love 
and  joy,  under  groves  of  palms.  T 
could  hardly  realize,  understand,  or 
point  out  the  flitting,  swiftly  dis- 
persed, and  lovely  forms ;  but  I 
enjoyed  such  visions,  I  would  fain 
not  awake.  But  I  awoke,  though  I 
kept  my  eyes  closed,  that  the  vanish- 
ing dreams  might  play  a  little  longer 
round  my  soul. 

But  I  opened  my  eyes  at  last. 
The  sun  was  in  the  heavens,  but  in 
the  east;  I  had  slept  through  the 
night.  I  took  this  for  a  sign  that  I 
ought  not  to  return  to  the  inn.  I 
willingly  abandoned  that  which  I  had 
so  lately  left  there,  and  determined 
to  take  on  foot  a  by-road,  which  led 
through  the  forest-girded  base  of  the 
hill,  leaving  it  to  fate  to  determine 
what  might  he  my  lot.  I  looked  not 
back ;  I  thought  not  even  of  apply- 


148  SCHLEMIHL. 

ing  to  Bendel,  whom  I  had  left  hi 
wealth  behind  me,  which  I  might  so 
easily  have  done.  I  began  to  con- 
sider what  new  character  I  should 
assume  in  the  world.  My  appear- 
ance was  very  unpretending :  I  wore 
an  old  black  coat,  which  I  had 
formerly  worn  in  Berlin,  and  v/hich, 
I  know  not  how,  I  had  taken  for 
this  journey.  I  had  only  a  travel- 
ling-cap on  my  head,  and  a  pair  of 
worn-out  boots  on  my  feet.  I  rose 
up,  cut  a  knobbed  stick  from  the 
spot  as  a  sort  of  memento,  and 
began  my  wanderings. 

I  overtook  in  the  wood  an  old 
peasant,  who  greeted  me  with  great 
kindness,  and  with  whom  I  entered 
into  conversation.  I  first  inquired, 
like  a  curious  traveller,  about  the 
road,  then  about  the  neighbourhood 
and  its  inhabitants,  the  productions 
of  the  mountain,  and  such  matters. 


SCHLEMTHL.  149 

He  answered  my  inquiries  talka- 
tively  and  sensibly.  We  came  to 
the  bed  of  a  mountain  stream,  which 
had  spread  its  devastations  over  a 
wide  part  of  the  forest.  I  shud- 
dered inwardly  before  the  wide 
sunny  place,  and  let  the  country- 
man precede  me.  He  however 
stood  still  in  the  middle  of  this 
frightful  spot,  and  turned  round 
towards  me,  in  order  to  give  me 
the  history  of  the  overflow.  He 
soon  observed  what  was  wanting  to 
me,  and  stopped  in  the  middle  of 
his  narrative  to  say,  "  But  how  is 
this  ?  the  gentleman  has  got  no 
shadow."  "  Alas  !  alas  !  "  I  replied 
with  a  sigh,  "  I  had  a  long  and 
dreadful  illness,  and  lost  my  hair, 
my  nails,  and  my  shadow.  Look, 
father,  at  my  time  of  life,  my  hair, 
Avhich  has  growTi  again,  quite  white, 
my  nails  sadly  short,  and  my  shadow 


SCHLEMIHL. 


is  not  yet  springing  forth."  "  Ay, 
ay,"  said  the  old  man,  shaking  his 
head,  "  no  shadow  —  that 's  odd  !  the 
gentleman  must  have  had  a  sad 
illness."  But  he  did  not  go  on 
with  his  story,  and  at  the  next  cross 
path  he  glided  away  from  me  mth- 
out  saying  a  word.  Bitter  tears 
trembled  again  on  my  cheeks ;  all 
my  serenity  was  gone. 

With  a  heavy  heart  I  moved  for- 
wards, and  sought  the  society  of 
man  no  longer.  I  concealed  myself 
in  the  thickest  of  the  forest,  and  was 
often  obliged  to  wait  for  hours  in 
order  to  get  over  sunny  spots,  even 
where  no  human  eye  forbade  my 
progress ;  in  the  evening  I  sought 
a  retreat  in  the  villages.  At  last  I 
bent  my  course  towards  a  mine  in 
the  mountain,  where  I  hoped  to  find 
employment  under  ground;  for  be- 
sides that  my  situation  required  me 


SCHLEMIHL. 


even  to  procure  my  daily  bread,  I 
clearly  perceived  that  nothing  but 
the  most  laborious  toil  would  be 
any  protection  from  my  convulsive 
thoughts. 

A  couple  of  rainy  days  helped  me 
far  on  my  way,  but  at  the  cost  of 
my  boots,  whose  soles  were  made  to 
suit  Count  Peter  and  not  a  running 
footman ;  I  soon  walked  on  my 
naked  feet,  and  was  ol)liged  to  pro- 
cure another  pair  of  boots.  The 
next  morning  I  attended  earnestly 
to  this  affair  in  a  village,  where  a 
fair  was  held,  and  where  old  and 
new  boots  were  exposed  in  a  shop 
for  sale.  I  selected  and  bargained 
for  a  long  time.  I  was  obliged  to 
abandon  a  new  pair  which  I  wished 
to  possess  —  I  was  frightened  by  the 
extravagant  price ;  and  satisfied  my- 
self therefore  with  old  ones,  which 
were  yet  firm  and  strong,  and  which 


152  SCHLEMIHL. 


the  fair  and  light-haired  shop-boy 
handed  to  me  for  my  ready  cash 
with  a  smile,  while  he  wished  me 
a  prosperous  journey.  I  put  them 
on  immediately,  and  went  away 
through  a  door  which  lay  to  the 
north. 

I  was  lost  in  my  own  thoughts, 
and  hardly  observed  where  I  put  my 
foot,  for  I  was  still  planning  about 
the  mine,  whither  I  hoped  to  arrive 
by  the  evening,  and  hardly  knew 
how  I  should  manage  to  introduce 
myself  there.  I  had  not  advanced 
two  hundred  paces  ere  I  discovered 
that  I  had  lost  my  way;  I  looked 
round,  and  found  myself  in  an 
antique  and  desert  wood  of  firs,  to 
the  roots  of  which  it  appeared  the 
axe  had  never  been  laid.  I  still 
hastened  onwards  a  few  steps,  and 
perceived  I  was  among  dreary  rocks, 
surrounded  only  by  moss  and  stones. 


SCHLEMIHL. 


between  which  lay  piles  of  snow  and 
ice.  The  wind  was  extremely  cold  ; 
and  when  I  looked  round,  the  forest 
had  wholly  disappeared.  Yet  a  few 
paces  forward,  the  stillness  of  death 
possessed  me.  The  ice  on  which  I 
stood  stretched  boundlessly  before 
me,  —  a  dark  mist  hung  over  it ;  the 
red  sun  looked  from  the  edge  of  the 
horizon.  The  cold  was  intolerable  ; 
I  knew  not  how  it  had  happened; 
but  the  benumbing  frost  forced  me 
to  accelerate  my  steps.  I  heard  the 
roar  of  distant  waters  ;  another  be- 
wildered step,  and  I  was  on  the  ice- 
borders  of  the  ocean.  Countless 
herds  of  seals  dashed  splashing  into 
the  stream.  I  followed  the  sea- 
shore, and  saw  again  naked  rocks, 
land,  forests  of  birch  and  pine-trees. 
I  moved  forwards  for  a  few  minutes  — 
it  was  burning  hot ;  around  me  were 
richly-cultivated      rice-fields      under 


154  SCHLEMIHL. 


mulberry-trees,  in  whose  shadow  I 
sat  dowTi,  and  looking  at  my  watch, 
I  found  it  not  less  than  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  since  I  left  the  village.  I 
fancied  I  was  dreaming;  I  bit  my 
tongue  to  awake  myself,  and  I  was 
aroused  most  thoroughly.  I  closed 
my  eyes  in  order  to  assemble  my 
thoughts.  I  heard  strange  nasal 
sounds:  I  looked  around;  two  Chi- 
nese, whose  Asiatic  countenances 
I  could  not  mistake,  were  saluting 
me  according  to  the  custom  of  their 
country  and  in  their  own  language ; 
I  arose  and  walked  back  two  steps. 
I  saw  them  no  longer,  the  landscape 
was  wholly  changed ;  trees  and 
woods  had  succeeded  to  the  rice- 
fields,  T  looked  pensively  on  the 
trees  and  plants  which  were  bloom- 
ing around  me,  and  saw  that  they 
were  the  productions  of  Southeastern 
Asia.      I   went  towards  a  tree,   and 


SCHLEMIHL. 


all  was  again  changed.  I  walked 
forwards  like  a  drilled  recruit,  with 
slow  paces.  Wonderful  varieties  of 
countries,  fields,  meadows,  moun- 
tains, wastes,  and  sandy  deserts 
rolled  along  before  my  astounded 
sight;  doubtless  I  had  the  seven- 
leagued  boots  on  my  legs. 


I  fell  down  on  my  knees  in  speech- 
less devotion,  and  shed  tears  of  grati- 
tude. My  future  destiny  seemed 
bright  in  my  soul.  vShut  out  from 
human  society  by  my  early  guilt, 
-Nature,  which  I  had  ever  loved, 
was  given  me  for  my  enjoyment, 
spread  out  like  a  rich  garden  before 
me,  an  object  of  study  for  the  guide 
and  strength  of  my  life,  of  which 
science  was  to  be  the  end.     It  was 


156  SCHLEMIHL. 

no  decision  of  my  own.  What  then 
appeared  bright  and  perfect  in  my 
inner  thoughts  I  have  since  en- 
deavoured to  describe  with  calm, 
earnest,  unremitting  diligence,  and 
my  happiness  has  depended  on  the 
intensity  of  my  recollections. 

I  rose  up  hastily,  in  order  that  by 
a  rapid  survey  I  might  take  posses- 
sion of  the  field  in  which  I  wished 
to  make  my  harvest.  I  stood  upon 
the  mountains  of  Thibet,  and  the 
sun,  which  had  risen  a  few  hours 
before,  was  now  sinking  in  the  even- 
ing sky.  I  journeyed  from  the  east 
towards  the  west  of  Asia,  overtaking 
the  sun  in  his  progress,  and  passed 
the  boundaries  of  Africa.  I  looked 
round  with  great  curiosity,  and 
crossed  it  in  all  directions.  As  I 
glanced  over  the  old  pyramids  and 
temples  of  Egypt,  I  observed  in  the 
deserts     near     the     hundred-gated 


SCHLEMTHL.  157 

Thebes  the  caverns  once  occupied 
by  Christian  anchorites ;  instantly 
it  occurred  impressively  and  dis- 
tinctly to  me,  —  there  is  thy  abode. 
I  chose  for  my  future  dwelling  one 
of  the  most  secret  chambers,  which 
was  at  the  same  time  roomy,  con- 
venient, and  inaccessible  to  the 
jackals,  and  moved  forward  with 
my  staff. 

I  passed  into  Europe  by  the  Pil- 
lars of  Hercules,  and  after  I  had 
taken  a  rapid  survey  of  its  southern 
and  northern  provinces  I  hastened 
to  North  Asia,  and  thence  over 
the  polar  glaciers  to  Greenland 
and  America.  1  rambled  through 
both  parts  of  that  continent,  and 
the  winter,  which  had  begun  to 
reign  in  the  south,  now  drove  me 
quickly  back  northwards  from  Cape 
Horn. 

1  lingered  till  the  day  dawned  in 


158  SCHLEMIHL. 


Eastern  Asia,  and  after  a  short  re- 
pose again  entered  on  my  wander- 
ings. I  followed  the  chains  of 
mountains  through  the  two  Ameri- 
cas, some  of  the  highest  elevations 
known  in  our  globe.  I  trod  slowly 
and  prudently  from  height  to  height, 
now  over  flaming  volcanoes,  and  now 
over  snowy  cupolas.  I  was  often 
almost  breathless  with  weariness, 
but  I  reached  the  Elias  Mountain, 
and  sprung  to  Asia  across  liehring 
.Strait.  I  pursued  the  western 
coast  along  its  numerous  windings, 
and  endeavoured  to  ascertain  by 
special  observation  which  of  the 
islands  in  the  neighbourhood  were 
accessible  to  me.  From  the  Malacca 
i'eninsula  my  boots  took  me  to 
Sumatra,  Java,  Balli,  and  Lamboc. 
I  endeavoured,  often  with  peril,  and 
always  in  vain,  to  find  a  northwest 
passage    over    the    inlets    and    the 


SCHLEMIHL.  159 

rocks  with  which  the  ocean  is 
-Studded,  to  Borneo  and  the  other 
islands  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago  ; 
but  I  was  obliged  to  abandon  the 
hope.  I  sat  down  at  last  on  the 
farthest  verge  of  Lamboc,  and  turn- 
ing my  eyes  to  the  south  and  east, 
I  wept  as  if  within  the  grates  of 
a  prison  that  I  could  proceed  no 
farther.  New  Holland,*  that  ex- 
traordinary country  so  essentially 
necessary  to  understanding  the  phi- 
losophy of  the  earth  and  its  sun- 
embroidered  dress,  the  vegetable 
and  the  animal  world,  and  the  South 
Sea  with  its  zoophyte  islands,  were 
interdicted  to  me;  and  thus  every- 
thing on  which  I  would  have  gathered 
together  and  erected  my  hopes,  was 
condemned  to  be  left  a  mere  frag- 
ment,  even    in   its  very  origin.      O 

*  Australia. 


l6o  SCHLEMIHL. 

my    Adalbert,    such   is   the    reward 
for  all  the  labours  of  man ! 

In  the  coldest  winter  of  the  south- 
ern hemisphere  I  have  stood  on 
Cape  Horn,  meditating  on  the  two 
hundred  paces  or  thereabouts,  which 
divided  me  from  New  Holland  and 
Van  Diemen's  Land,  careless  about 
the  means  of  returning,  and  indif- 
ferent even  though  that  strange  land 
should  lie  over  me  like  the  cover  of 
my  bier.  I  attempted  to  cross  the 
polar  glaciers  towards  the  west,  and 
with  foolishly  daring  yet  despond- 
ing steps  to  pass  upon  the  floating 
ice,  braving  the  frost  and  the  waves. 
In  vain,  —  I  have  never  yet  been  in 
New  Holland.  I  returned  again  to 
Lamboc  ;  again  I  sat  myself  on  the 
outer  verge,  my  face  turned  to  the 
south  and  east,  and  wept  again,  as 
if  at  the  fast-closed  iron  window  of 
my  prison. 


SCHLEMIHL.  i6t 

I  rose  up  at  last  from  this  spot, 
and  with  a  dejected  heart  jour- 
neyed to  the  interior  of  Asia.  I 
hastened  onwards,  perceiving  the 
daybreak  towards  the  west,  and 
at  night  reached  my  before-de- 
scribed abode  in  Thebes,  which  I 
had  just  looked  into  the  previous 
afternoon. 

As  soon  as  I  had  taken  some  re- 
pose, and  the  day  had  dawned  upon 
Europe,  my  first  care  was  to  pro- 
vide for  my  necessities.  First,  stop- 
shoes;  for  I  had  discovered  that, 
however  inconvenient  it  might  be, 
there  was  no  way  of  shortening  my 
pace  in  order  to  move  conveniently 
in  my  immediate  neighliourhood  ex- 
cept by  drawing  off  my  boots.  A  pair 
of  slippers,  however,  produced  the 
wished-for  effect ;  and  henceforward 
I  always  took  care  to  be  provided 
with    a  couple  of   pair,  as   I    often 


l62  SCHLEMIHL. 

threw  one  pair  away  if  I  had  not 
time  to  lay  hold  of  them,  when  the 
approach  of  lions,  men,  or  hyaenas 
interrupted  my  botanizing.  My  ex- 
cellent watch  was  an  admirable 
chronometer  to  me  for  the  short 
period  of  my  peregrinations;  but  I 
required  a  sextant,  some  philosoph- 
ical instruments,  and  books. 

In  order  to  obtain  all  these  things, 
I  made  some  tedious  journeys  to 
London  and  Paris,  which  were 
both  overshadowed  by  friendly 
fogs.  As  I  had  exhausted  the  re- 
mainder of  my  magic  gold,  I 
brought  with  me  for  the  purposes 
of  payment  some  African  elephants' 
teeth,  which  I  easily  obtained, 
though  I  was  obliged  to  choose  the 
smallest  among  them,  that  they 
might  not  be  too  much  for  my 
strength.  I  was  soon  supplied  and 
stocked  with  everything  I  required, 


SCHLEMIHL.  163 


and  began  my  new  mode  of  life  as 
a  retired  philosopher 

I  journeyed  over  the  east,  now 
measuring  its  mountains,  now  the 
temperature  of  its  streams  and  of 
its  air,  now  observing  its  animals, 
now  examining  its  plants.  I  hastened 
from  the  equator  to  the  pole,  from 
one  world  to  another,  comparing 
experience  \Aith  experience.  The 
eggs  of  the  African  ostrich,  or  the 
northern  sea-fowl,  and  fruits,  espe- 
cially tropical  palms  and  bananas, 
were  my  usual  refreshments.  In- 
stead of  my  departed  fortune  I  en- 
joyed my  Nicotiana ;  it  served  instead 
of  the  good  opinion  of  mankind. 
And  then  as  to  my  affections:  I  had 
a  love  of  a  little  dog,  that  watched 
my  Theban  cave,  and  when  I  re- 
turned to  it  laden  with  new  trea- 
sures, it  sprang  forwards  to  meet  me, 
making  me  feel  the  spirit  of  humanity 


1 64 


SCHLEMIHL. 


within  me,  and  that  I  was  not  quite 
alone  on  the  earth.  But,  notwith- 
standing this,  calamity  was  yet  to 
drive  me  back  to  the  haunts  of 
men. 


'^ 


CHAPTER   VI. 


/^XCE,  being  on  the  northern 
coast,  having  drawn  on  my 
boots  while  I  was  gathering  together 
my  straggling  plants  and  seaweeds, 
a  white  bear  approached  unawares 
the  verge  of  the  rock  on  which  I 
stood.  I  wished  to  throw  off  my 
slippers  and  move  off  to  an  adjacent 
island,   which    T   expected    to    reach 


l66  SCHLEMIHL. 


over  a  rock  whose  head  towered 
above  the  waves.  With  one  foot  I 
reached  the  rock  ;  I  stretched  out 
the  other,  and  fell  mto  the  sea ;  I 
had  not  observed  that  my  foot  was 
only  half -released  from  the  slipper. 

Overpowered  by  the  tremendous 
cold,  I  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in 
rescuing  my  life  from  this  peril ;  but 
as  soon  as  I  reached  the  land,  I 
hurried  off  to  the  wastes  of  Libya 
to  dry  myself  there  in  the  sun.  I 
had,  however,  scarcely  set  out  ere 
the  burning  heat  so  oppressed  my 
head  that  I  reeled  back  again  to 
the  north  very  ill.  I  sought  relief 
in  rapid  movements ;  and  with  un- 
certain and  hurried  steps  I  hastened 
from  the  west  to  the  east  and  from 
the  east  to  the  west.  I  placed  my- 
self in  the  most  rapid  vicissitudes  of 
day  and  night ;  now  in  the  heats  of 
summer,  and  now  in  the  mnter's 
cold. 


SCHLEMIHL.  167 


I  know  not  how  long  T  thus  wan- 
dered over  the  earth.  A  burning 
fever  glowed  through  my  veins,  and 
with  dreadful  agony  I  perceived  my 
intellect  abandoning  me.  Misfor- 
tune would  have  it  that  I  should 
carelessly  tread  on  a  traveller's  heel ; 
I  must  have  hurt  him,  for  I  received 
a  violent  blow ;  I  staggered  and  fell 

When  I  recovered  my  senses  I 
was  comfortably  stretched  on  an 
excellent  bed,  which  stood  among 
many  others  in  a  roomy  and  hand- 
some apartment.  Somebody  was 
sitting  near  my  pillow;  many  per- 
sons passed  through  the  hall,  going 
from  one  bed  to  another.  They 
stood  before  mine,  and  I  was  the 
subject  of  their  conversation.  They 
called  me  A^wnber  Twelve ;  and  on 
the  wall  at  the  foot  of  my  bed  that 
number  certainly  stood.  It  was  no 
illusion,  for  I  could  read  it  most  dis- 


SCHLEMIHL. 


tinctly.  There  was  a  black  marble 
slab,  on  which  was  inscribed  in  large 
golden  letters  my  name, 

litttx  Sdjlnntf)!, 

quite  correctly  written.  On  the 
slab,  and  under  my  name,  were  two 
lines  of  letters ;  but  I  was  too  weak 
to  connect  them,  and  closed  my  eyes 
again. 

I  heard  something  of  which  Peter 
Schlemihl  was  the  subject,  loudly 
and  distinctly  uttered,  but  I  could 
not  collect  the  meaning.  I  saw  a 
friendly  man  and  a  beautiful  woman 
in  black  apparel,  standing  before  my 
bed.  Their  forms  were  not  strangers 
to  me,  though  I  could  not  recognize 
them. 

Some  time  passed  by,  and  I  grad- 
ually gathered  strength.  I  was 
called  Xo.  12;  and  No.  12,  by  virtue 
of  his  long  l:>eard,  passed  off  for  a 


SCHLEMIHL.  I69 

Jew,  but  was  not  the  less  attended 
toon  that  account.  Xobody  seemed 
to  notice  that  he  had  no  shadow. 
My  boots  were,  as  I  was  assured,  to 
be  found,  with  everything  else  that 
had  been  discovered  with  me,  in 
good  and  safe  keeping,  and  ready 
to  be  delivered  to  me  on  my  re- 
covery. The  place  in  which  I  lay 
ill  was  called  the  Schlemihlium  :  and 
there  was  a  daily  exhortation  to 
pray  for  Peter  Schlemihl,  as  the 
founder  and  benefactor  of  the  hos- 
pital. The  friendly  man  whom  I 
had  seen  at  my  bedside  was  Bendel ; 
the  lovely  woman  was  Mina. 

I  lived  peaceably  in  the  ScJile- 
inihliiwi,  quite  unknown  ;  but  I  dis- 
covered that  I  was  in  Bendel's 
native  place,  and  that  he  had  built 
this  hospital  with  the  remainder  of 
my  once  unhallowed  gold.  The  un- 
fortunate l)lessed  me  daily,  for  he 


SCHLEMIHL. 


had  built  it  in  ray  name,  and  con- 
ducted it  wholly  under  his  owti  in- 
spection. Mina  was  a  widow;  an 
unlucky  criminal  process  had  cost 
Mr.  Rascal  his  life,  and  taken  from 
her  the  greater  part  of  her  property. 
Her  parents  were  no  more.  She 
dwelt  here  like  a  pious  widow,  and 
dedicated  herself  to  works  of 
charity. 

She  was  once  conversing  with  Mr. 
Bendel  near  the  bed  No.  12.  "  Why, 
noble  woman,  expose  yourself  to  the 
bad  air  which  is  so  prevalent  here  ? 
Is  your  fate  then  so  dreary  that  you 
long  for  death?"  "No,  Mr.  Ben- 
del  ;  since  I  have  dreamt  out  my 
long  dreams,  and  my  inner  self  was 
awakened,  all  is  well,  —  death  is  the 
object  of  neither  my  hopes  nor  my 
fears.  Since  then,  I  think  calmly 
of  the  past  and  of  the  future.  And 
you  —  do    you   not    yet   serve    your 


SCHLEMIHL. 


master  and  friend  in  this  godlike 
manner,  with  sweet  and  silent  satis- 
faction ?  "  "  Yes,  noble  woman  — 
God  be  praised  !  Ours  has  been  a 
marvellous  destiny.  From  our  full 
cup  we  have  thoughtlessly  drunk 
much  joy  and  much  bitter  sorrow  : 
't  is  empty  now.  Hitherto  we  have 
had  only  a  trial ;  now,  with  prudent 
solicitude,  we  wait  for  the  real  intro- 
duction to  substantial  things.  Far 
different  is  the  true  beginning ;  but 
who  would  play  over  again  the  early 
game  of  life,  though  it  is  a  blessing, 
on  the  whole,  to  have  lived  ?  I  am 
supported  by  the  conviction  that 
our  old  friend  is  ])etter  provided  for 
now  than  then."  "  T  feel  it  too," 
answered  the  lovely  widow ;  and 
they  left  me. 

This  conversation  had  produced 
a  deep  impression  within  me ;  but 
I   doubted   in   niv  mind  if   T   should 


172  SCHLEMIHL. 

discover  myself,  or  set  out  unknown 
from  the  place.  I  decided,  how- 
ever ;  I  ordered  paper  and  pencil  to 
be  brought  to  me,  and  wrote  these 
words :  — 

"  Your  old  friend,  too,  is  better 
provided  for  than  formerly;  and  if 
he  do  penance,  it  is  the  penance  of 
reconciliation." 

On  this,  finding  myself  better,  I 
desired  to  dress  myself.  The  keys 
were  deposited  on  the  little  trunk 
which  stood  close  to  my  bed.  I 
found  in  it  everything  that  belonged 
to  me.  I  put  on  my  clothes,  and 
hung  over  my  black  coat  my  botan- 
ical case,  where  I  found  again,  with 
transport,  my  northern  plants  I 
drew  on  my  boots,  laid  the  note 
which  I  had  written  on  my  bed,  and 
when  the  door  opened  was  far  on 
my  way  towards  Thebes. 

A  long  time  ago,  as  I  was  tracing 


SCHLEMIHL.  173 

back  my  way  homewards  along  the 
Syrian  coast,  the  last  time  I  had 
wandered  from  my  dwelling,  I  saw 
my  poor  Figaro  approaching  me. 
This  charming  spaniel  seemed  to 
wish  to  follow  the  steps  of  his  mas- 
ter, for  whom  he  must  have  so  long 
waited.  I  stood  still,  and  called  him 
to  me.  He  sprang  barking  towards 
me,  with  a  thousand  expressions  of 
his  innocent  and  extravagant  joy. 
I  took  him  under  my  arm,  for,  in 
truth,  he  could  not  follow  me,  and 
brought  him  with  me  safely  home. 

I  found  everything  thus  in  order, 
and  returned  again,  as  my  strength 
returned,  to  my  former  engagements 
and  habits  of  life.  And  now  for  a 
whole  twelvemonth  I  have  refrained 
from  exposing  myself  to  the  un- 
bearable winter's  cold. 

And  thus,  my  beloved  Chamisso, 
—  thus   do    I   yet   live.      My  boots 


74  SCHLEMIHL. 


have  not  lost  their  virtues,  as  the 
very  learned  tome  of  Tieckius,  De 
relnis  gestis  Pollicilli,  gave  me  reason 
to  apprehend.  Their  power  is  un- 
broken :  but  my  strength  is  failing, 
though  I  have  confidence  I  have 
applied  them  to  their  end,  and  not 
fruitlessly.  I  have  learned  more 
profoundly  than  any  man  before  me 
everything  respecting  the  earth  :  its 
figure,  heights,  temperature ;  its  at- 
mosphere in  all  its  changes ;  the 
appearance  of  its  magnetic  strength  ; 
its  productions,  especially  of  the 
vegetable  world,  —  all  in  every  part 
whither  my  boots  would  carry  me. 
I  have  published  the  facts,  clearly 
arranged  with  all  possible  accuracy, 
in  different  works,  with  my  ideas 
and  conclusions  set  down  in  various 
treatises.  I  have  established  the 
geography  of  interior  Africa  and  of 
the  North  Pole,  of  central  Asia  and 


SCHLEMIHL.  175 


its  eastern  coasts.  My  Historia 
Stirpiutn  Pliuitarum  titriusqtie  Orbis 
has  appeared,  being  but  a  large 
fragment  of  my  Flora  universalis 
TerrcE  and  a  companion  to  my 
Systenia  Natures.  In  that  I  believe 
I  have  not  only  increased  the  num- 
ber of  known  species  more  than  a 
third  (moderately  speaking),  but 
have  thrown  some  light  on  the  gen- 
eral system  of  nature  and  the  geog- 
raphy of  plants.  I  am  now  busily 
engaged  with  my  Fauna.  I  will 
take  care  before  my  death  that  my 
MSS.  be  disposed  in  the  Berlyi 
university. 

And  you,  my  beloved  Chamisso, 
you  have  I  chosen  for  the  keeper 
of  my  marvellous  history,  which, 
when  I  shall  have  vanished  from 
the  earth,  may  tend  to  the  improve- 
ment of  many  of  its  inhabitants. 
But,  my  friend,  while  you  live  among 


176 


SCHLEMIHL. 


mankind,  learn  above  all  things  fir.st 
to  reverence  your  shadow,  and  next 
your  money.  If  you  will  only  live 
for  Chamisso  and  his  better  self, 
you  need  no  counsel  of  mine. 


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